Document text
Park will get improvements Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Matt Frey of Ashland tempts his dog, Buddy, a white golden retriever, with a tennis ball at the dog park in Ashland. Henry, a chow/retriever mix, waits for his turn in the water tub. Dogs and their owners who use the two-acre park will be seeing $13,500 worth of improvements in a few weeks. Enhancements will include a separate fenced area for smaller dogs, an irrigation system, a canine water fountain and a double-gated entry. Several upgrades begin in a few weeks By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - Collie owner Steve Wolfe was embarrassed last summer when he took visiting family members to the town's dog park. "We took them to Garfield Park and others. They saw how beautiful they are," said Wolfe. "Compared to our other parks this seems to be the orphan." Wolfe and others who sought improvements should see work begin in a month. Parks Department crews will perform the first upgrades within the fenced area since it opened in 1994. The two-acre park is behind the plant nursery at Helman and West Nevada streets near Bear Creek. Dog enhancements will include a separate fenced area for smaller dogs, an irrigation system, a canine water fountain and a double-gated entry area that will keep dogs already in the park from running directly to greet new arrivals. People will gain a gazebo-style shelter that will offer shade in the summer and protection during inclement weather. A parking area and the road leading from the intersection of Nevada and Helman streets to the park were paved last fall. Wolfe and Jon Reinhardt, who chairs the Ashland Dog Park Committee, are unhappy that work hasn't started sooner. Parks and Recreation Director Ken Mickelsen said other projects have delayed dog park improvements, except for the paving. "It's the second-most used park in Ashland," says Reinhardt, who brought Django, his Hungarian Visla to the park. "It's used by a multitude of people 365 days a year." The group has raised more than $3,500 to assist with the current upgrades. The parks department will spend another $10,000. About 60 people attended an initial meeting to seek improvements in November 1999, said Reinhardt. Irrigation will help stop the spread of the invasive star thistle weed in the area, said Reinhardt. Star thistle can harm dogs. The drinking fountain will provide a fresh supply of water to reduce the chance of disease transmission. "We are committed to do it and will get the vast majority of work done this spring," said Mickelsen. Future improvements that Reinhardt would like include better handicapped access, increased size and night lighting. Ashland dog owners found at the park on a recent morning like the proposals, but some don't want to see too many improvements. Roger and Jesse Cantwell of Ashland fear improvements could end up making the park more attractive to people and ultimately affect what's available for dogs. They have used the park since it opened. "It's just a dog park to me. It's going to get trashed," said Rob Joseph. "Ashland is full of pristine parks." Small-dog owner Rick Cottle of Ashland said the idea of a separate area for tinier dogs is good, but his own dog is used to bigger canines at home and hasn't encountered problems at the park. "I'd hate to get it too pretty," said Cottle when told of upcoming improvements. "Dogs like it a little rough." Canines will be the top dogs on this spring's work list. Parks crews will first do the fencing, then the irrigation. The people's gazebo comes last. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.