Photo by pdell via morgueFile.com
County officials met with Paddock Lake officials Wednesday about making the now temporary dog park at Old Settlers Park permanent.
County Executive Jim Kreuser, county parks general manager Jonathon Rudie and Supervisor Mike Underhill met with village building inspector Tim Popanda to discuss the issue.
Use of the land as a dog park would be permitted under the village’s zoning, Popanda said. However, the village shared its concerns about the proposal with the village, including:
- Protecting Paddock Lake from harmful run-off.
- Making the current fencing permanent.
The county may likely have a permit in hand to begin work at the site by the end of June, Popanda said.
Part of Old Settlers Park has been being used as a temporary off-leash dog park since late last year as a way to help raise funds for two permanent dog parks — one at the new county park under development in Randall and Wheatland and the other at Petrifying Springs County Park in Somers. Kreuser’s goal was to raise $25,000 in matching funds to supplement $25,000 in revenue received from landfill fees to develop the two parks. Another temporary park was set up at Petrifying Springs as well.
But the temporary parks proved popular and the fundraising was boosted by two large donations for naming rights. The effort has more than exceeded its goal by raising $41,000.
No trustee commented on the report concerning the county’s intentions. At the March Village Board meeting, Village Trustee Terry Burns’ motion to support making the dog park at Old Settlers permanent failed for a lack of a second.
