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Resident presses mayor for dog-park opening; mayor cites grass damage and weather
Summary
Resident Lisa Shucker told the council she had emailed repeatedly asking why the Coleman Memorial Park dog park has not opened; the mayor said staff and a landscape designer are monitoring grass regrowth after winter damage and that the city invested significantly in the project, preferring a delayed opening to avoid a muddy park.
Lisa Shucker, a Lebanon City resident, told the council she has emailed the city multiple times seeking an update on the Coleman Memorial Park dog park and said she no longer receives responses.
"I've emailed 8 times," Shucker said, asking when the park will open. The mayor responded that the city had replied in January but that the staff member Shucker had been emailing was on parental leave; the mayor said staff and a landscape designer have inspected the site and found patchy and soggy areas and a truck rut that delayed opening. The mayor said the city 'invested it, like, a half $1,000,000' in the project and voiced reluctance to open the park prematurely and create a muddy site.
Shucker disputed that she had received timely responses and said she had asked for callbacks without success. The exchange ended with the mayor offering that the staff member on parental leave should return soon and that staff will monitor the turf over the next several weeks to determine whether reseeding or rerolling is necessary.
Why it matters: the dog park is a council-designated amenity with community interest; residents pressed the administration for a clearer timeline and more consistent communications about the opening.
Status and next steps: the mayor said staff will continue monitoring turf regrowth; no firm opening date was announced.
