Jaycees, city teaming up to build new dog park
Highland dog owners will soon have a place to spend quality time with their four-legged companions.
The Parks and Recreation Department and the Highland Jaycees are teaming up to build the Highland Jaycees Dog Park, which will be located on the south end of Troxler Road at Dennis Rinderer Park.
The park will encompass a little over one acre, and feature a fenced-in playing area.
Mark Rosen, director of Parks and Recreation department, said the dog park, which is projected to cost around $30,000 to $35,000 to develop, will be built in phases, with the first phase starting shortly.
In the first phase, the focus will be to erect a fence around the park, he said.
In the second phase, the city plans to run water out to the park, and construct a pavilion.
“The park amenities and apparatus will be added in the future,” Rosen said. “Right now, our goal is to get the fence in, pavilion and water.”
The pavilion is expected to contain two vestibules. One of the vestibules will be for larger dogs, and the other for smaller breeds.
Rosen said the city will be using donations and seeking grants to help offset the development cost.
Some of the funding will likely come from a Park Enhancement Project (PEP) grant offered by Madison County.
Earlier this year, the city received $48,820 PEP grant, which it used to make improvements at Glik, Silver Lake, Spindler and Hoffman parks.
The PEP program is administered by the Madison County Community Development department operating under the direction of the Madison County Park and Recreation Grant Commission. The commission oversees the operation of the Metro East Park and Recreational District, which was created by a vote of Madison County residents in November, 2000. The Park and Recreation District is funded by a 1/10 of 1 percent sales tax.
The Highland Jaycees have already donated $1,100, toward the park, Highland Jaycees President Zach Resmann said.
“We are involved in this project because the Jaycees would like to take on a large project with city hall,” he said. “We run the Pet Parade each year and team with local pet shops around town so we have a passion for pet related projects.”
On Oct. 24, the Jaycees will hold their second annual Scavenger Hunt around the city.
“The proceeds from the event will benefit the new dog park,” Resmann said.
The Jaycees have already been holding a significant amount of money from their Schweizerfest proceeds for the past four years, which will now be donated toward the dog park.
“We have been waiting for a good, large project idea for this to go toward,” Resmann said.
Dennis Rinderer Park will be the eighth park maintained by the Highland Parks and Recreation Department. The city also maintains The Plaza Square, Tot Lot, Glik, Hoffman, Silver Lake, Kaeser, Merwin and Spindler parks.
This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Jaycees, city teaming up to build new dog park."