By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
After 14 dog years in the making, Bowling Green City Council voted Monday evening to authorize a lease between the city and Citizens for BG Dog Parks.
The approval unleashes efforts by residents to move forward with a 1.39-acre dog park in the north portion of Ridge Park. The goal of the citizens group is to create a dog park which is more walkable than the county’s dog park on the east side of Interstate 75.
Under the plan, the city will lease the land for $1 a year to the Citizens for BG Dog Parks group, which will be responsible for maintaining the site.
The approval Monday evening was welcome news to members of the citizens group, who have been itching to move forward with the project. The organization has a meeting planned for Saturday to discuss designs for the dog park.
“We’re ready to move,” said Jo Ascunce, who was one of the original advocates for the project. “Hopefully things start falling into place.”
Though discussions about a dog park were contentious at times, Ascunce praised city leaders for their efforts on the project.
“I really am thankful for this council and the city attorney,” Ascunce said after Monday’s meeting.
Council members Bill Herald and Jeff Dennis praised the work of the citizens involved, and the hours put in by city staff, especially City Attorney Hunter Brown and Clerk of Council Jodi Sickler.
“This is another shining example of the community working together to better Bowling Green,” Herald said. “I strongly endorse the path that has been traveled” to complete the ordinance.
Voting yes on the dog park lease were council President Mark Hollenbaugh and members Joel O’Dorisio, Rachel Phipps, Damon Sherry and Greg Robinette. Abstaining were Herald and Dennis due to the extent of their involvement on both sides of the issue.
While the city was open to leasing the land, officials wanted the dog park group to be responsible for maintenance of the site. The three-year lease requires the group to adequately fence the site, pay for installation of utilities, mow the grass and clean up dog poop that owners have not picked up.
In 2022, City Council voted to allocate $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the non-profit BG Citizens for Dog Parks.
The lease agreement includes the following provisions for the Ridge Park site:
- The Citizens for BG Dog Parks will be responsible for infrastructure improvements to the premises, including installation of utilities, fences, water fountains, walkways and trash receptacles.
- The rental cost of the parkland will be $3 for the initial three-year term.
- The dog park group must provide the city an escrow deposit of $3,000 to ensure that the facilities and grounds are installed and adequately maintained.
- The group will be responsible for continued maintenance and repairs, including litter cleanup, lawn mowing, snow and ice removal, line-trimming and the removal of fecal matter left by dogs.
- The city will pay all utility bills generated by use of the premises.
- The dog park may not charge for access to the premises, restrict the general public from access, or establish any fee for membership or access.
- The dog park group shall furnish the city with an annual report.
- The dog park group must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance in an amount of at least $1 million.
The city will continue to maintain the rest of Ridge Park, including the playground area to the south, the parking along the west side, and the grass around the fenced dog park.
The park will have a card access gate – but no fee or pass will be required to get into the park. Those entering must scan a QR code available at the site, sign a waiver acknowledging the rules, vaccination status of their dog, and willingness to pick up poop.
Preliminary plans call for two fenced-in areas at Ridge Park – one for small and one for big dogs – and a double gate system, to prevent escapes.
The hours of the park will be the same as other city parks, from sunup to sundown.
