A Place of Their Own For the City's Pooches

Some Lynchburg residents may be wondering if the city has finally gone to the dogs. The proposal for a dog park could have pushed them in that direction.

Not so fast. Why not have a dog park? Lots of cities around the nation have parks for pooches who like to get out of the house or the yard for a visit with their neighbors every once in a while.

And when they do get out for a walk beyond their normal confines, the dogs are tethered to a leash that’s controlled by their owners.

So what’s a dog who wants to socialize on occasion with some of his buddies to do?

The answer is a public dog park. It’s a fenced-in area — one for large dogs and one for smaller ones — where the canines can move about freely and get to know their neighbors from up or down the street or even from across town.

Plans for a dog park, assembled after 18 months of study, have been endorsed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The recommendations will be outlined at a public meeting Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Miller Center, 301 Grove St.

The feasibility study recommends development of a public dog park on city-owned land at the Blackwater Creek Natural Area. But the cost of equipping and maintaining the off-leash park would be borne by the dog owners.

The study envisions financial contributions from the community and volunteer labor to build and maintain the dog park. The city would supply the land, a currently empty field just off the Monticello Avenue entrance to the Blackwater Creek Natural Area.

The site would be fenced in and pet waste stations would be established at a cost of about $27,500. Additional improvements, including benches and play equipment, would come later as fundraising efforts progressed. The area already has a parking lot and rest rooms.

Under the proposal, the city would pay for half of the annual maintenance costs of about $4,000. That would put the city’s investment in the dog park at about $2,000, a sum that not even the most tight-fisted taxpayer could bark about.

“We think this is a really good start,” said Niro Rasanayagam, head of the dog park committee, who stressed the minimal cost to the city.

“This is a space that’s just sitting there, not being used, and we can make it into something attractive. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Andy Reeder, city parks manager, said an adequate number of volunteers has stepped up to help with the dog park. And, he added, it will be up to them “to raise money and make things happen.”

So what rules must Fido follow if he goes to the dog park? He will have to have a license and proof of a rabies vaccination. If he’s too aggressive, he will lose the privilege of visiting with his friends and neighbors. And his owner will be required to pick up after him.

Nothing too complicated about that. At last check, the dogs were giving an excited yelp about the prospect of having their own park.

Now it’s up to their owners and the city to make sure the proposal goes forward.