MONROE - Monroe dog lovers could get a new park to visit with their canine companions under a plan approved by the park board this week.
The Monroe park board on Wednesday approved a proposal to develop a dog park at 120 North 29th Ave., in the North Industrial Park lot on which the water tower stands.
Alderman Jeff Newcomer proposed the project with the assistance of Monroe residents Ryan Ziltner and Katherine Frey. Newcomer said the location is ideal because the land is already developed and owned by the city. Furthermore, the land is not located directly next to any residential areas.
Parks director Paul Klinzing said the department has identified dog parks as one of the city's most sorely-needed attractions: The nearest dog parks in Wisconsin are in Verona and Milton, about 30 and 40 miles away, respectively. There also is one on the south side of Freeport, about 25 miles away.
Currently, dogs are allowed in just one city park, Airport Park, located near the municipal airport. There are no parks designated specifically as a park to exercise dogs.
The proposed park consists of a fenced-off area of roughly 1.7 square acres. The area is subdivided into a 1.2-square acre park for larger dogs, with the remaining area dedicated to smaller dogs.
Newcomer said the estimated development cost of the first phase would reach approximately $45,000, of which $32,000 would be for fencing.
Newcomer also proposed later development phases of up to $15,000 each, which would pay for upgrades such as benches, a parking lot and signage.
Park attendance would be dependent on membership fees, Newcomer said. He proposed an annual payment of $30 per dog but added that the cost was only a ballpark figure similar to what other dog parks charge.
Klinzing said the project was good but warned that finding the money and manpower to maintain the park could be difficult.
With the board's approval, Newcomer said he would formally propose the project to the Monroe City Council at its next meeting.
If approved, Newcomer hoped the project could be completed this fall.
Newcomer also suggested placing a survey in the parks office to gauge public interest in a possible dog park.
In other business, the board approved a permit for Madison ice vendor Kona Ice to sell its products in Monroe parks, with the condition that the parks department receive a percentage of all sales made in the parks.
The Monroe park board on Wednesday approved a proposal to develop a dog park at 120 North 29th Ave., in the North Industrial Park lot on which the water tower stands.
Alderman Jeff Newcomer proposed the project with the assistance of Monroe residents Ryan Ziltner and Katherine Frey. Newcomer said the location is ideal because the land is already developed and owned by the city. Furthermore, the land is not located directly next to any residential areas.
Parks director Paul Klinzing said the department has identified dog parks as one of the city's most sorely-needed attractions: The nearest dog parks in Wisconsin are in Verona and Milton, about 30 and 40 miles away, respectively. There also is one on the south side of Freeport, about 25 miles away.
Currently, dogs are allowed in just one city park, Airport Park, located near the municipal airport. There are no parks designated specifically as a park to exercise dogs.
The proposed park consists of a fenced-off area of roughly 1.7 square acres. The area is subdivided into a 1.2-square acre park for larger dogs, with the remaining area dedicated to smaller dogs.
Newcomer said the estimated development cost of the first phase would reach approximately $45,000, of which $32,000 would be for fencing.
Newcomer also proposed later development phases of up to $15,000 each, which would pay for upgrades such as benches, a parking lot and signage.
Park attendance would be dependent on membership fees, Newcomer said. He proposed an annual payment of $30 per dog but added that the cost was only a ballpark figure similar to what other dog parks charge.
Klinzing said the project was good but warned that finding the money and manpower to maintain the park could be difficult.
With the board's approval, Newcomer said he would formally propose the project to the Monroe City Council at its next meeting.
If approved, Newcomer hoped the project could be completed this fall.
Newcomer also suggested placing a survey in the parks office to gauge public interest in a possible dog park.
In other business, the board approved a permit for Madison ice vendor Kona Ice to sell its products in Monroe parks, with the condition that the parks department receive a percentage of all sales made in the parks.