Lakeside council member objects to dog park plan

A bone of contention emerged Thursday night, as the Duluth City Council discussed a resolution that could designate two parks -- Observation Heights and Russell Square -- as sites for future dog parks in the city.

Councilor Jennifer Julsrud, who represents the Lakeside neighborhood, where Russell Square is located, questioned the value of establishing a dog park on the eastern end of Duluth, in an area already rich with green space where people can walk their dogs.

"I don't think there's a need for this on the east end of town, nor should it be a priority, given our limited capital resources," Julsrud said.

At Large Councilor Dan Hartman said that while campaigning in eastern Duluth he heard from many dog owners who said they wanted a dog park in their neighborhood. Duluth's only current off-leash dog park is in Keene Creek Park in West Duluth.

In response to what he heard from voters, Hartman asked Duluth's Park and Recreation Department to form a task force and identify the best potential sites for future dog parks in central and eastern Duluth.

Department Director Kathy Bergen said dog parks are amenities that have been growing increasingly popular across the nation. She noted that Duluth struggles with people who choose to walk their dogs off-leash at other parks in violation of city code. She said it would be useful if the city could direct dog owners to parks where off-leash activities are allowed.

Bergen said people's fears of dog parks are usually unfounded.

"They don't usually end up being loud or disruptive, but there's always that fear people have," she said.

Councilor Jay Fosle, who represents the 5th District on the western end of the city, suggested the council consider its other recreational priorities.

"I can't see us spending money on dogs before our children," he said.

Bergen said there is no money in the 2014 budget for any new dog parks. She suggested that if one were to be built next year, it would be the result of local fundraising efforts. The Keene Creek Dog Park was built almost entirely with private money. Bergen estimates the cost of a new dog park with fencing and all would probably run between $10,000 and $20,000.

Julsrud said she was upset that people living next door to the proposed dog parks had not been sufficiently involved in the discussion and expressed frustration that she had not been notified of the proposal as a councilor.

"This resolution is the product of a process that wasn't sufficiently open. I think it needs to be vetted further before the council moves ahead," she said.

Hartman said there would still be ample opportunity to involve neighbors in the discussion before any actual new dog parks are approved or developed.

Councilor Sharla Gardner, who represents Duluth's Central Hillside, where Observation Heights Park is located, said she didn't share Julsrud's anger at not being notified of the proposed dog park in her district.

"I'm not offended that I wasn't invited to any meetings on this, because it's still so preliminary," she said.