HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07City of Lakeville
Parks & Recreation
Memorandum
To: Mayor, City Council & City Administrator
From: Brett Altergott, Parks & Recreation Director
Date: February 13, 2015
Subject: Dog Park Location
At the February, 4 2015 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee (PRNRC) meeting
staff presented three potential park sites where a dog park could be located. As the
committee discussed the sites it became evident that due to the geographic size of the
community, location is our greatest challenge. The majority of Lakeville's existing centrally
located parks are adjacent to residential developments with backyards adjoining the park and
the parks with the largest open space are located on the edges of the city. Due to their
popularity, dog parks can be noisy when a large number of dogs and dog owners gather in a
relatively small area. In addition, the site will generate increased vehicle traffic and desire for
parking in close proximity to the facility.
The PRNRC was also asked to consider elements that make up a successful dog park, like, it's
size (dog parks range from as small as one acre to as large as twenty acres), available or new
parking (many dog parks experience 20 to 40 participants at a time requiring a considerable
parking facility), adequate lighting (security and evening use), potable water source (dogs
and owners), shade trees, fencing, good visibility for police patrol, good road accessibility,
bathroom facilities (permanent or portable), regulatory signage, trash receptacles, waste bag
dispensers, seven days a week maintenance and care, long term maintenance on turf areas
that get worn down due to over use, etc.
After much discussion, the PRNRC recommends establishing a dog park at the southeast
corner of Ritter Farm Park between the entrance road and the 1-35 fence. In addition, the
PRNRC expressed a desire to add smaller dog exercise areas within some neighborhood parks
as they are redeveloped or upgraded in the future.
As of Friday, February 13 staff is working on obtaining cost estimates for the various amenities
mentioned above. In the meantime if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me
at 985-4601 or baltergott@lakevillemn.gov
Enclosure: Map with Ritter Farm Park location
Ritter Farm Park
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Disclaimer., Map and parcel data are believed to be accurate, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This is not a legal Map Scale
document and should not be substituted for a title search,appraisal, survey, or for zoning verification. Dakota County 1 inch = 346 feet
assumes no legal responsibility for the information contained in this data. 1/26/2015