St. Clair County clearing space for dog park near animal services
St. Clair County is clearing land near to its animal services offices and adoption center for a dog park.
Crews have been clearing out brush and trees on a site across the street from the adoption center for about a week.
“It’s a lot clearer and a lot bigger than I anticipated,” said animal control Director Jim Jacquot, during a recent Animal Services committee meeting. “It’s looking pretty good now.”
The site will be across the street from the animal control and adoption center and will be a place for dogs at the adoption center to run around without a leash.
“We’re hoping … through the animal adoption center, people will come, and want to play with the dogs, and walk the dogs,” said St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern.
Kern said people will be able to see if a potential dog fits with their family in this future park. The location also could benefit people who come to the adoption center to help out.
“We have a lot of volunteers who come there now and walk up and down 11th Street, and they’re hesitant to do that, ... because it’s a lot of traffic,” Kern said. “This way they’ll be able to go to a park.”
We have a lot of volunteers who come there now and walk up and down 11
Mark Kern
St. Clair County board chairmanKern did say the park is a work in progress.
“It isn’t an instant thing…. This could take a while to get it developed,” Kern said. “It will take a while.”
Jacquot said the county needed to obtain a permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation to carry out the project as the area is along Illinois 15.
The cost of the project still needs to be determined as well.
“Once we get the land cleared we’ll know better then what kind of budget to make for the fencing, and what kind of plantings will be necessary to comply with IDOT rules,” Kern said.
County Board Member Bob Trentman pushed for a place to walk dogs near the animal control services office and brought the idea up with Kern, he said.
“He brainstormed and he came up with the idea of across the street, I want to give Chairman Kern credit,” Trentman said. “The animal rescue people are pretty happy with it. It’s going to help us save animal lives.”
Joseph Bustos: 618-239-2451, @JoeBReporter
St. Clair County Animal Services clinic
The St. Clair County Animal Services is scheduled to hold a clinic where pets could receive a rabies vaccination, a county registration, and a microchip; pet owners can schedule an appointment to have their pets spayed or neutered.
- The cost of the services is $50.
- People must have proof of county residency
- All pets must be leashed or in a pet carrier
- The program is not for catch-fix-release animals
- Pregnant pets are excluded
- Payments must be in cash, or checks or money orders payable to St. Clair County Treasurer.
- Registration prior to the event is encouraged. Call 618-235-0585 for more information.
- Clinic is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 23.
- Animal Services is at 1250 S. 11th St. near Belleville.
This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 10:41 AM with the headline "St. Clair County clearing space for dog park near animal services."