Boulder City Council approves plan for dog park

By Jean Reid Norman

Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 12:20 p.m.

It was clear that a new proposal for a no-leash dog park in Boulder City had at least one vote Tuesday night at the City Council meeting.

Blanca, a standard poodle trained as a service dog for the hearing impaired, barked softly twice as Margaret Kolar, president of See Spot Run, began to outline the plans to the council for the 3.5-acre facility next to Veterans Memorial Park.

The council ended up seconding that motion with a 4-0 vote to begin the process of approving the plans. Mayor Roger Tobler was absent.

The park will have two fenced-in areas, one for small dogs and one for big dogs. Both will have shaded areas and picnic tables where owners can sit and visit, Kolar said.

Another area will provide two arenas for events such as competitions. When events are not scheduled, pet owners will be able to play Frisbee with their pets there, she said.

The park will include a brick entrance with an unleashing area, water to fill dog bowls and a pet cleanup station, she said. It will share parking with Veterans Memorial Park.

See Spot Run has raised $60,000 to pay for the park’s construction and associated costs, such as liability insurance and maintenance, Kolar said.

The group is now seeking donations of labor and material and is ready to start construction as soon as the City Council gives final approval to the project, which would include a $1 a year lease with the city for the property.

The process could be completed by late summer, City Manager Vicki Mayes said.

The site for the park is the third one proposed for the project, which has been a dream of the nonprofit for the past five years. The first, on Yucca Street near the city’s animal shelter, had drainage problems, and the second, a detention basin on Veterans Memorial Drive, had easement restrictions because of power lines.

The location within Veterans Memorial Park is a good match, council members said.

“I think it’s an incredible addition to Veterans Memorial Park, which is a crown to the city,” Councilman Mike Pacini said.

“I am too excited about this, and so is my dog Holly,” Councilwoman Linda Strickland said. “It’s user-friendly.”

Ron Limneos said he and his wife, Linda, have been taking Blanca and Shadow, their black male standard poodle, to dog parks in Henderson and are looking forward to a park in Boulder City.

“It’s finally coming together,” Limneos said.