MARYSVILLE Dont ask who let the dogs out, at least until Nov. 29.
Thats when city officials are holding a public meeting to gauge support for proposed site in the Sunnyside neighborhood that could host a five-acre off-leash park for dogs.
The Marysville Parks and Recreation Departments advisory board has chosen the Kiwanis Nature Park adjacent to Sunnyside Elementary School for what could be the first of multiple parks for dogs to roam free in. Administrators hope to gauge the communitys support for the site and want to hear what people living close by think of the idea.
The site is located on 40th Street NE below the new water tower on 71st Avenue, just east of the school. A small gravel lot off of 40th would be paved to provide parking for about a dozen cars, according to Jim Ballew, parks department director.
The park is a narrow strip of land about 50 yards wide stretching for about a quarter mile south of 40th Street. It would cost about $30,000 to make initial improvements to the site, with about $11,000 of that picked up by local businesses and volunteer groups who have held fundraisers specifically for such a park.
The biggest item on the tab would be $17,800 to install fencing for a four-acre area, and then another $4,500 for the parking lot. The department would use furnishings like benches and tables that they already have on hand, and HomeStreet Bank has donated a dual-use drinking fountain for both humans and canines to use. Other than installing a set of dual gates, the city would only have to spread some wood chips on part of the area, according to Ballew.
Currently there is a small path through some brush leading to a bridge and the Sunnyside playground; that will be closed off, Ballew added.
Construction would start and finish sometime in 2008 if the City Council approves the selection.
Poochapalooza founder Leslie Buell said Marysville is primed to host at least one park dedicated to dogs and wont lack volunteers to help maintain the facility. Buell helped raise more than $4,000 with her dog-centric event that was part of the Marysville Strawberry Festival the last two years and the festival board donated $2,500 of that to the new park. Buell has also founded the Marysville Dog Owners Group to support the new park, wherever it is built.
Were so excited about the off-leash park that were jumping like Jack Russell terriers, Buell said.
City Councilwoman Carmen Rasmussen is also a member of the parks department advisory board and said she supports the proposed site because it is an existing park and seems to fit the use well. Its not big enough to be a regional site, but that is not what the city is after, at least at this time, she added.
Over the past two years city staffers have talked with representatives of Snohomish County and other adjacent cities and discussed the possibility of joining together to build a large facility to serve the surrounding area, but those plans have not gelled at this time, according to Rasmussen. If citizens and the City Council support the Kiwanis Nature Park site for off-leash use, Marysville may still want to build another one in the north of town, depending on demand, she said.
Snohomish County at one time proposed using Mother Natures Window at 55th Avenue and 100th Street NE as an off-leash park but that idea was not pursued seriously, and the county doesnt want to share the stand of old growth trees with other agencies, Rasmussen said.
Were always open to joining in with the county if we are working on a similar project, Rasmussen said.
Julie Smith has lived just east of the proposed park in the Wilderun West housing development for two years and said shes OK with the off-leash park as long as noise isnt a problem. Her family has two small Chihuahuas that arent likely to leave the porch any time soon, and Smith said the park would be nice if the city manicures the brush growing on the gentle slope. She wasnt happy about plans to remove the footbridge and path leading from Wilderun West to the Sunnyside playground at the bottom of the hill, and said that access was part of her homes purchase covenant. Still, she supports the idea of an off-leash park in general.
I think its something thats desired but not necessary, Smith said.
Ballew said noise is the biggest concern the city has heard from residents, and errant dogs are another concern. Childrens playgrounds are actually louder than dog parks but Ballew said he will be happy to address those issues at the public meeting. Rasmussen said studies show that noise wont be a problem because the dogs will be too busy playing. Most complaints about dogs barking are because they are lonely at home or are trying to scare away a threat.
From what I understand noise is not an issue, Rasmussen said. At the dog parks Ive been to I havent seen dogs standing there barking.
Ballew said his staff has met with administrators from the Marysville School District about safety and other concerns.
The Marysville Parks and Recreation Department will hold a community meeting to discuss a potential site for a new off-leash dog park in Marysville at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Sunnyside
Elementary School, 3619 Sunnyside Boulevard, on Thursday,
Nov. 29. For more information call the department at 360-363-8400.
Anyone interested in helping choose or maintain a dog park can call the Marysville Dog Owners Group president Leslie Buell at 425-268-5285.