Dog Park Meeting April 1st

A public meeting to discuss fundraising for the development of a dog park in San Angelo will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the McNease Convention Center.
Organized by Girl Scout Megan Allgeier with assistance from the City of San Angelo’s Parks & Recreation Department, the meeting will inform attendees about the proposed dog park and raising the funds for its development. Allgeier, who has adopted the park as her Girl Scout Gold Project, has volunteered to lead efforts to raise funds for its development.

The City Council on March 18 approved the concept of developing a dog park on public property, utilizing funds raised through donations, sponsorships and fundraisers. The park’s development is estimated to cost $50,000 to $150,000, depending upon its location and the project’s scope. City staff has identified two potential locations: near Lone Wolf Bridge and a preferred site alongside the Red Arroyo near College Hills Boulevard.

Leasing property to a non-profit organization for development and maintenance is a possibility. Annual maintenance costs are estimated at $8,000-$10,000.

Citizens have expressed a strong desire to develop a dog park in San Angelo, something many other similar-sized Texas cities already have, including Abilene. A dog park ranked as the second-most desired facility (behind only more hike and bike trails) by respondents in the 2012 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan.