Cedar Rapids officials advance Jones Dog Park project

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jones Park is officially going to the dogs.

Cedar Rapids City Council members on Tuesday voted 7-1 to adopt the plans, specifications and cost estimate for a new dog park at Jones Park in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The estimated $1.8 million project will include a general dog socialization area, a small dog space and two training areas.

“The most exciting thing with this project is the more equitable distribution of dog parks throughout the city and to offer some great opportunities for residents to get outdoors and recreate with their pets,” said Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Director Carrie Mardorf.

The off-leash dog park is part of an ongoing effort to revamp Jones Park’s now-closed municipal golf course. The project was first identified through a community survey meant to collect citizen input on potential park uses.

Of the roughly 2,000 survey respondents, around 18 percent listed a dog park as one of their top three asks for the space — one of the highest of any responses to the open-ended survey.

Other amenities added to the park in recent years include the construction of 10 new pickleball courts, disc golf and a Jones Lodge remodel.

“You don’t get an opportunity to reinvent a large portion of an existing park very often, so a lot of thought was going into this,” said council member Scott Overland. “It’s a very beautiful park, and this (dog park) is a function that people said they wanted. ... I think it will be an additive item for our community to enjoy for an awful long time.”

Council member David Maier was the sole “no” vote on the dog park project, citing its total cost and the potential for those funds to be used for different city projects. Council member Ann Poe was absent.

Mardorf said the goal is to award the construction contract for the project this fall in hopes of opening the pet-friendly amenity in fall of 2026. Once complete, it will span nearly 10 acres.

The $1.8 million project will be funded through the city’s capital improvement planning budget with the majority of those funds being used to complete related roadwork and other infrastructure improvements.

The project includes a new access road to C Street SW, for example, as well as a parking lot and necessary storm sewer improvements. The site plan also calls for a walking trail, shade structures and picnic tables to complement the park’s pet-friendly focus.

“This dog park is starting from scratch. There’s really nothing there, so that price tag covers a lot of infrastructure,” Mardorf said. “It’s the behind-the-scenes things that people don’t even realize is needed to make the park safe and functional.”

Once complete, the Jones Park facility will be the city’s fourth dog park.

As with the other three parks, Jones Dog Park visitors will have to register for city-issued dog tags to clear their pets for use of the municipal facility. Yearly permits cost $42, or daily passes are available for $6.

Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com