Talk about making an entrance. Mayor Ron Payne didn’t know what to think at first when Steve Castlen walked his dog right into the mayor’s office one day last September.
Steve didn’t tell Mayor Payne what the meeting was about when he scheduled it, but Payne found out soon enough. With his dog in his lap, Castlen methodically explained the need for a dog park in Owensboro and his vision for a committee of concerned citizens to make it happen.
A month later, Castlen presented that same vision to the City Commission, who after some discussion, unanimously approved to maintain the dog park once it’s established. An annual operating budget has already been approved to cover maintenance and replacement costs, pending the committee can raise the money needed for all major installation expenses, namely fencing, shelter houses, benches, and possibly restrooms.
“This really is a wonderful partnership between some committed citizens that have a common desire and want to see additional growth in the community and the City Commission, who have agreed to earmark this piece of property and take on the expense annually,” said Owensboro Parks Director, Amanda Rogers. “That’s the best kind of partnership.”
Patti Martin chairs the committee that has been tasked with raising awareness and collecting donations. “Our goal is to raise $145,000,” says Sandy Deyton, who edits the Owensboro Off-Leash Dog Park Facebook page and coordinates fundraising events.
That goal received a significant boost in July when L. Steve Castlen Realtors was announced as the naming sponsor for the new Owensboro Off-Leash Dog Park with a $50,000 donation.
Obviously, Steve is a “dog guy,” but Castlen says the decision to sponsor the dog park was not a unilateral move. “Our realtors all agreed that this was a great way to support the community, and they all seem excited. As a company, we need to give back, and this is one way we’re able to do that. We’ve taken care of families in this community with their homes; now we’re going to take care of their pets, too.”
Castlen Realtor’s contribution brings the longtime dream much closer to becoming a reality. OMU has also agreed to donate the cost of running a water line to the proposed property, which Rogers estimates to be in the $20-30,000 range since it involves boring under Horse Fork Creek.
“We’re trying to use public and private so it doesn’t put all the burden on the city. “ Castlen explained.
In addition to organizing a booth at Friday After 5 and several fundraising events like the “Gone to the Dogs” pet swim at Combest Pool, which raised almost $500 for the project, the committee has applied for several grants. Private donations and corporate sponsorships are now being solicited with several levels of sponsorship.
For example $10,000 sponsors a pet water station, $5,000 sponsors a bench, $250 sponsors an engraved plaque along the fence. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made over a period of time.
Location
Rogers’ staff was tasked with listening to the committee, finding out what their vision was, putting some basic numbers together as far as expenses and how much space would be needed, and looking at location options among city-owned properties.
The proposed location for the dog park is an 8.6-acre green space along the Greenbelt. The area is just behind the Heartland subdivision on 54, where East Byers Avenue deadends at the Greenbelt.
Rogers says although the City had the property graded and planted some trees along the green space, there were no immediate plans for the property. The back portion of the land is rented out for farming, but the green space along the Greenbelt is readily usable.
Connecting park access to the Greenbelt makes sense from the perspective of the number of people who use the Greenbelt and already walk dogs on it anyway. “When you look at that property, there are almost 2,500 houses within a mile and a half walking distance, both city and county residents,” Rogers explained. “I felt like a lot of people would walk their dogs to the park, enjoy their time, and walk back home.”
For those who need to drive, they can park at the Yewell’s Heritage Park trailhead parking area, which is accessed from Brookhill neighborhood, which puts you less than a half mile from the dog park. There’s also a little space to park at the end of Byer’s Avenue off 54.
Specifics/plans
The Off-Leash Dog Park will be completely fenced in with an entrance area where owners will enter and take their dogs off the leash. There will be at least three fenced in chutes off the entrance, two of which will be open at all times with another not in use so the turf can be rotated and rejuvenated.
The short-term vision includes fencing, benches, trash receptacles, fountains for owners and pets, dog waste receptacles, and signage. The long-term vision includes restroom facilities, covered patio area, dog agility features, planted trees, and spray features.
The committee hopes people who don’t own pets will enjoy the facility as well. “We want people to come by and let their kids and grandkids watch the dogs play and run,” says Castlen.
Community Support
Dog parks are a nationally trending topic for city parks and recreation departments. Rogers cited the Owensboro Parks and Recreation master plan study, which was conducted in 2012 by an outside party. In that study, a dog park moved up to #7 on the priority list (from #11 in 2011).
“There is so much support for this in the community, and we get more phone calls every day,” Deyton said.
If interested in donating, please contact
[email protected]. Keep up with updates at Owensboro Off Leash Dog Park’s Facebook page.