This one for the dogs
RED OAK — Plans are progressing for the Red Oak dog park, a project that has been on the Park and Tree Board’s wish list for more than two years. It is scheduled for a June or July grand opening.
During April 2011, the park board approved the south well location, but after learning the City’s ongoing water survey would occupy the space until 2014, the dog park committee began looking for other locations.
Committee member Larry Brandstetter said after much research, they concluded the south well was the best location, and they decided to limit the park to the 2.5 acres west of the ditch, away from the survey work, which the Red Oak City Council unanimously approved.
The City-maintained park will cost about $25,000, which will include $22,000 for fencing, which will be done by the United Farmers’ Mercantile of Red Oak, and about $3,000 for other amenities including drinking stations for dogs. It will be financed primarily through Local Option Sales Tax dollars in a fund for new recreation projects.
Brandstetter said the off-leash park will feature two sections, one for larger and one for smaller dogs.
At Thursday’s park board meeting, other aspects of the park, including drinking stations and picnic tables were discussed, but no formal action was taken. Brandstetter provided the board with various options for drinking stations, which he found after contacting other dog parks.
He recommended a $1,500 drinking fountain for dogs only, which would fill a bowl for the dog and flush upon command. He added this is the cheapest option he’s found, citing other fountains that provide a human drinking fountain as well for a higher price.
However, he said the other parks he contacted implied most pet owners bring their own water, making a human water fountain unnecessary. Also, the City water department has agreed to put in an outdoor spigot outside of the fenced-in park for people to fill up water bottles.
While no formal decision was made on the fountains Brandstetter proposed, the board agreed to eventually get two fountains, one for each section of the park.
Board Chair Bill Drey also discussed the possibility of picnic tables at the dog park. He said the City might have some old ones they could use. However, he’s looked into potentially purchasing three new ones.
The board did not vote on the matter, but discussed possibly getting either six- or eight-foot polyethylene or resin tables that would handle the elements better than wood.
Based on estimates from the Red Oak Do-It Center and the Farmers’ Mercantile, such tables could cost between $200-350 each.
Drey also mentioned a variety of items the dog park committee discussed at their Jan. 31 meeting regarding the future of the park.
He said they discussed down the road creating a Friends of the Red Oak Dog Park support group for the park, building a shelter house, starting a website, planting more trees, planning programs at the park such as dog training and putting signs advertising the park along Hwy 34 and 48.
The board will vote on specific items for the dog park at a future date.
Also, at Thursday’s Park and Tree Board meeting, John Haidsiak came before the board to discuss progress made on the Freedom Rock.
Haidsiak is spearheading the effort and working to get representatives from various community groups to join a fundraising committee for the rock, which will cost between $5-7,000 for artist Ray ‘Bubba’ Sorensen to come to Red Oak.
While in the very early stages, Haidsiak said the community will have input on what is depicted on the rock.
“We want to make it with the idea that we are honoring the veterans of the past, present and the ones that will be here in the future,” he said.
Initial plans are to place the completed rock in Fountain Square Park along with the other war memorials. However, Haidsiak said that depends on the long-term plans for the park.
Once the funds are raised, Haidsiak will appear before the park board to get their approval on the location of the rock. He said around $1,000 has been raised so far, and there will likely be fundraising events during the summer. He has no timeline on the completion of the project yet.
If interested in donating, Haidsiak said checks can be made out to the Red Oak Heritage Foundation with ‘Freedom Rock’ in the memo line and can be dropped off at Houghton State Bank.