Design work begins on new dog park next to Gardner Golf Course at highways 100 and 13

Julie Sina, the city's parks and recreation director, reported this week that design work is beginning on the city's new dog park that is coming to 11 city-owned acres near the Gardner Golf Course at Highway 100 and Highway 13.

Sina said the proposed cost of the new dog park is $125,000, an amount which the City Council included in its budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city's existing dog park, in Cheyenne Park out Old River Road SW on the far edge of the city, was damaged as was the city's nearby animal shelter in the June 2008 flood. Sina said the city has decided not to return a permanent dog park to the site. The city isn't returning to the animal shelter either.

The proposal for the new dog park did bring an objection from council member Tom Podzimek back in January. Podzimek said the Gardner Golf Course area was too far removed from most of Cedar Rapids. He said it seemed Cedar Rapids taxpayers were creating a dog park that would be more convenient for residents of Marion and Linn County.

Sina this week said Cedar Rapids dog lovers like the new site, and she said dog owners don't mind driving a little to get to a dog park. Dog owners pay to use the park, she noted.

The plan now is to have the park open by Spring 2010.