White Rock is getting an off-leash dog park.
City manager Dan Bottrill confirmed last week that a fenced space will be created on the west side of Centennial Park (14600 North Bluff Rd.), between the playground and the arena.
The site was determined through consultation with interested parties, he said. It’s hoped it will be ready by the end of September.
The facility is one several residents have long advocated for; often appearing at city council meetings to ask officials when they will make it happen.
Last week, Bottrill described creation of the new park as “a good step in the right direction.”
“The people I talked to seemed very pleased.”
The news was a relief for White Rock resident and dog owner Eva Hompoth.
Hompoth has been among the vocal advocates for such a park. She even organized a low-key demonstration outside city hall in February aimed at encouraging the city to act.
She described word that a park is in the works as “almost too good to be true.”
“They called me from city hall and said they had two ideas about the dog park and asked me what I think,” she said.
Topics discussed included whether picnic tables should be added to area, if the city should provide doggy-waste disposal bags onsite and the possibility of installing a bulletin board where park users could post lost-and-found and other notices.
“They took so many things into consideration, I was really proud of them,” Hompoth said.
Bottrill said the process is now in the hands of the city’s operations department. In addition to fencing, the site needs some groundwork done, he said. The exact cost has not yet been determined, however, Bottrill estimated the budget at between $20,000 and $25,000.
Maccaud Park and trail space in the Duprez ravine were among “a number” of other city-owned sites considered.
“We’re hoping it’s going to be well-used, we’re hoping people are going to be responsible,” he said.