MASON CITY – “From the humble beginnings of a doggy get together in East Park to the opening of the Mason City Dog Park, it’s been a long five years,” says Carrie Poulter, organizer of Friends of the Mason City Dog Park, the group responsible for fund raising for the park. “We’re proud of our efforts to create this wonderful recreational place where dogs – and people – can socialize.”
Laura Grommesh, Chair of Friends says, “It’s so thrilling to go to our own dog park and see it being enjoyed by dogs and owners alike, just as we knew it would!”
The dog park, located at the intersection of Elm Drive and 13th St NW across the street from Mason City’s water treatment plant will be “officially” open on Monday, August 18. Although dogs and their owners have been enjoying the park since the fence was installed last fall, all of the amenities of the park such as grading and seeding of the grounds, water fountains for dogs and humans alike, picnic tables, and the installation of agility equipment were completed this spring and summer. The parks department will be installing benches and landscaping in the days to come to complete phase 1 of the plan.
Poulter thanked, “our City Council members, volunteers and all the dog owners in the community who helped make our vision a reality. Bill Stangler, Bob Berggren and the Mason City Parks department employees did such a fantastic job constructing this park!”
The location of the dog park, which is just over 5 acres in size, was determined by a citizen input group as the best reuse of property that was damaged in the 2008 flood. There are three separate areas, a large dog area for dogs 30lbs. and over, a small dog area for dogs up to 30lbs. and a training/agility area. Users should remember to clean up after their dogs.
Rules are posted by the main entrance. The park hours are dawn to dusk, there is no membership fee, but all dogs using the park must have, and display, current rabies tag. If the owners reside in Mason City the dog must also display a current city license tag. Getting your dog vaccinated against kennel cough is highly recommended. Any dogs displaying aggression should be immediately removed from the dog park for the safety of all involved.
“There will be a grand opening celebration later this fall,” says Grommesh, “so be sure to check our Facebook page, Mason City Needs a Dog Park, for details. Our page is also a great way for owners to let each other know when they will be at the park so their doggy BFFs can play together.”
I can feel the love throughout this thread!
Another waste of money!!!
It doesn’t matter how great you think a dog park is if you know that your dogs social skills are questionable it might become worse when you arrive at the park and if your dog don’t have a good recall then you’re going to have trouble controlling your dog and that usually doesn’t end well. I think its the ‘owners responsibility’ to know if their dog is appropriate for a dog park, how will you monitor this situation? A dog shouldn’t have to pay for stupidity.
This dog park is a bad idea. You’re just asking for trouble. Here’s a few reasons why: First and for most Dogs are PACKS not many people can read/understand a dogs body language. People are going to expect their dog to behave like they do at home (that’s NOT going to happen) your playing a game of Russian Roulette and the dog is usually the one who pays the price with his life. Not to mention with the city law any yahoo can shoot your dog if it attacks, “REMEMBER” dogs are PACKS,
Have you ever been to a dogpark? Stop by monday and check it out before you condem it.
NO! and I never will take my dog to a dog park. I’m not trying to condemn anything I’m trying to educate ideas.
@Mojo-Don’t misunderstand, I would like to see this succeed. I really hope the low life’s do not ruin it for the decent people in town.
and most dogs will protect their owners so make sure you don’t MISTAKE protection over aggression. Not everyone will be responsible on vaccinations Who is going to be responsible for spraying the area from diseases? Make sure you use a pet-friendly pesticides. Some people are oblivious. You can’t walk into a dog park and hope for the best. That usually is how things start. Its not fair for the dog at the end.
Kelli,
It is difficult to have credibility when you presume to be an expert but don’t participate.
You don’t need credentials just common sense.
Btw
How do you know I didn’t participate?
Kelli,
I didn’t say you didn’t have “credentials”, I have no idea if you do or not. I used the term “credibility”, there is a difference.
How do I know you don’t participate? Because you said so on this thread on August 17 at 8:49 a.m.
No, I said I would never take my dogs to a dog park, I know of the dangers it could have if not properly supervised/cared for. Cameras need to be installed so rover doesn’t get the bad end of the stick when some dipstick doesn’t follow the rules surely you should be able to afford those with all the fundraising.
“No, I said I would never take my dogs to a dog park”
You just said it again, Kelli. What do you think “participate” means?
HA
Nice try though!
Great. I like that dogs have a place to get exercise and navigate obstacle courses to keep them interested. 5 years of red tape to get through. That’s the part that stinks. Everything happens so damn slow in North Iowa…an undesirable by product of Conservative Sluggishness. Progressive Communities move forward quickly to give themselves all the amenities and modernity of 21st century living. MC is still waiting for some very old and in the way people to die off. Sad.
So who is going to enforce these rules. 21 years into garbage recycling and people still can’t get it right.
self enforcement. dont know if it will work. parks Ive been to in watrrloo and eau clare it seems to work.
@Allen-All it will take is for one of the low life’s we now have running around to bring a Pit Bull in there and have it attack someone’s Toy Poodle and then it will hit the fan. Rules mean nothing to those people. Only the decent people obey and enforce the rules.
So what do you suggest we do?
@Mojo-Not much you can do until it happens. I drive down 12th street N.E. all the time and see those people out with their attack dogs. They have no common sense so it is just a matter of time. The same reason people are now afraid to walk through East Park at night.
DONT wait for it to happen is the best idea.
Pit bulls are not aggressive. Humans are aggressive.
Basic rules as post on the fence.
1. All dogs must have city license and up to date shots.
2. No children under 8. No strollers
3. No dogs in heat.
4. No aggressive dogs. At the first sign of aggression remove the dog.
5. Clean up after your dog.
6. Treat others like you want to be treated.
Other than those 6 basic rules lets use some common sense.
Also probably not a good idea to bring treats unless you plan on sharing cause my dog will sitting next to you waiting for a
Forgot rule…