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Clayton residents seek dog park; Oak Knoll Park under considerat
(by Mitch Schneider - February 03, 2010)
If there is any truth to the saying that dog is man’s best friend, then there seem to be a number of solid friendships in Clayton, as a number of residents have expressed their desire for a dog park in the city.
Between 40 and 50 people, most of them wearing name tags with the names of their dog or dogs, attended a discussion session of the Clayton Board of Aldermen on Jan. 12 to support a city dog park.
“This is just a small fraction of the over 120 households that we have on an e-mail list, that support this, and of the more than 1,600 households that need a safe place for their dogs to run off-leash,” said resident Den Dubin. “This is a form of outdoor recreation for people of all ages, it is multi-generational and serves for enhanced community building and is good social capital. A lot of us know each other by our dogs’ names.”
In November, a number of residents had met with the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss a potential dog park, Dubin said, adding that the idea well received. She also passed out a flyer with statements from city residents in support of a dog park.
Among the others in the crowd were Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, and former Clayton Mayor Ben Uchitelle.
Uchitelle said that the idea of a dog park was something that the city had looked at before, in late 2007, but was forced to put it aside due to other factors, such as the search for a new city manager, that were also going on at the time.
“The reason that we are here is that both people and their dogs love the parks,” Uchitelle said. He said that several neighboring communities, including Creve Coeur, University City and Maplewood, already have dog parks. Additionally, the city of St. Louis has two.
Uchitelle said the parks generally range in size from about a quarter of an acre to two acres. There are some issues associated with starting a park, such as ensuring that there is nearby parking and water. There are also start-up costs, including installing fencing. He said that based on researching the dog parks in other cities, the costs could range from $15,000 to $60,000, but that after that, the park would cost the city very little, as a yearly fee paid by users would help cover the cost of maintenance expenses.
In terms of location, the proponents have identified one potential spot but would consider others.
“Location is key here,” Uchitelle told the aldermen. “We are looking at a space in Oak Knoll Park along Big Bend. It is three-quarters of an acre, and it is centrally located. We are not wed to that spot, but we would like to work with you on finding one.”
Dubin told the board that spots near Concordia Seminary or Gay Field were also possible options.
The aldermen took no formal action on the issue, but may take it up again in the future.
“I don’t think any of us are opposed to this,” said Mayor Linda Goldstein. “Right now, it is about finding the right spot for it and prioritizing it in relation to our other parks and recreation needs. I can see this moving forward when we find an appropriate piece of land.”
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