Trending
CADIZ -- Village Council officials last week listened to two Harrison Central High School students present a proposal about a possible dog park in Sally Buffalo Park.
Seniors Amber Williams and Jessica Haney, who say they are passionate about animal, plan to attend the Tuscarawas campus of Kent State University in the fall to study veterinary medicine. The two also have been working on a project they believe will benefit the people of Cadiz -- a local dog park.
"We would like a place where we could interact and have our dogs interact with each other," Williams said, as she and Haney discussed their reasoning behind the project. They said the benefits of a dog park include allowing owners and their dogs to socialize, giving dogs a safe place to exercise and burn off energy and promoting responsible pet ownership.
The two have been working together with Cadiz Village Administrator Charley Bowman since October, researching the details regarding the park, discussing rules with several other parks and working to find a suitable location.
The best location the girls found was the present site of Shelter 3 alongside Big Lake at the village park.
It proposed park would contain a small dog and large dog area, and the estimated cost for the dog park is $19,061, which includes stone, fencing for the area, trash cans, signage, benches and waste disposal areas.
Councilman Mike McPeak asked if the benches were all wood, and upon learning that they were, he said perhaps council could look into materials that may not require as much maintenance.
Councilman Dan Ossman asked if village personnel would be expected to clean up the park, even though posted signs would state owners are responsible for themselves.
Paul Coffland, a member of the park board and a Harrison County commissioner, said the board was against the proposed location, as building the park would take down the shelter and a camping area, which are streams of revenue for the park. He suggested several alternate locations without water access.
Council members are opting to do some more research before discussing the park and possible funding at a finance meeting set for April 5.
All members present applauded Williams and Haney for their work and research.
"I think it went well," Haney said after the meeting, adding council will get the final say.
In other recreation business, Coffland discussed with council potential improvements to playground facilities. Harrison County has the potential to receive up to $100,000 for playground improvements from state officials this year. Coffland has been in contact with a designer who has helped put together a plan for new playground facilities, complete with handicap access and age-appropriate sections. The new facilities would take the place of the older existing equipment.
The next meeting is set for 7 p.m. on April 5 at the Municipal Building on Court Street.