Pet owners give input on proposed 5-acre rec facility for dogs
 

05:34 PM CST on Saturday, March 19, 2005

By STEPHANIE SANDOVAL / The Dallas Morning News

The city's first dog park could be under construction by late summer, park and recreation officials say.

With the help of a group of volunteer advisers, park department and animal services staffers are planning a 5-acre facility behind the animal shelter, where dogs can romp free of their leashes.

Plans call for using about $350,000 – money left over from the construction of the Prairie Paws Adoption Center in 2003 – to build a fenced-in, off-leash dog park. The site would include several areas for different sized dogs, as well as parking, benches and watering stations for the canines and their human companions.

"We have always had in mind, since we talked of a new animal shelter, that a dog park would be great to go along with that," acting animal services manager Jennifer Vuitel said.

But there was no money budgeted for the dog park.

"We were lucky enough to bid this project when the economy was at a standstill," Ms. Vuitel said. "Contractors wanted the work, and we saved more money than we thought we would."

The city has called on residents to help plan the facility, proposed as part of the 162-acre Veterans Park. That park is still undeveloped, except for a playground, basketball court and parking lot. Eventually, it will include ball fields and other features in addition to the dog park.

The volunteers have met monthly since January, visiting North Texas dog parks and consulting with the operators of those facilities and others to learn what worked for them and what didn't.

That input is being used by parks department officials in the design process.

"This is a great team effort," parks director Rick Herold said.

The dog owners have formed Paws Pals of Grand Prairie, which has it's own Web site, www.paw palsofgrandprairie.org. They also have formed a chat group, where they discuss issues and ideas via a message board. Anyone interested can join for free at groups.ya hoo.com/group/gpdogpark.

One of the biggest issues of discussion has been whether to create a separate area for small dogs.

"Both staff and the committee agree there should be more than just one fenced-in space," parks and recreation manager Tim Shinogle said.

At this point, they are considering three areas. Two would be for all dogs, regardless of size. But use of those areas would be rotated to minimize destruction of the grass by the constant traveling of large dogs over it.

The third area would be restricted to the smallest breeds, which might get trampled or injured by larger, more aggressive dogs.

Plans also call for amenities for the people who will bring their dogs there, Mr. Shinogle said, including an expanded parking area at the adoption center, with a paved trail to the Park for People Who Love Dogs, seating, shade shelters and water fountains.

"Part of the design for this Park for People Who Love Dogs is to make it exciting for humans to talk to each other," said Deb Koplen, president of Paw Pals and the Yahoo chat group.

She is hoping to see more participation in the planning stages from other dog owners.

"People use something and treat it right if they have a piece of the action in putting it together," she said.

Dog owners interested in helping plan the park can attend the group's meeting at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, except May, when they will meet on the first Thursday.

The meetings are at the Prairie Paws Adoption Center, 2222 W. Warrior Trail.

"We need the citizenry of Grand Prairie to claim ownership; the only way they can ... is to be in on the building of it," Ms. Koplen said.

E-mail ssandoval@dallasnews.com or call 817-695-0315