Paved lot completed at county’s Dog Park

       The first phase of the $280,000 Dog Park upgrade project was visible this week, with the completion of the parking-lot paving.

The Dog Park's paved parking lot. Note: The restroom at left is temporary; the permanent unit is yet to come.
Westside Pioneer photo

       “So far things are on schedule,” said Jason Meyer of El Paso County Planning.
       The 25-acre off-leash facility, free and open to the public, is just west of 21st and Rio Grande streets.
       Access had been an issue for the past three weeks while the paving was under way. Users had to park in a few available spaces at the north end of the space off Lower Gold Camp Road or near the County Parks Building southeast of 21st and Rio Grande.
       Next up on the project schedule are construction of a dog wash/drinking fountain and excavation for a permanent restroom. Other work planned this winter will be kennels (dog-holding areas next to the restroom), added boundary fencing, utility connections and Bear Creek drainage work.

(late October): From nearly the same angle, the once-gravel lot during grading. Inside the fence, people walk their dogs into the park after leaving their cars across 21st Street.
Westside Pioneer photo

       Meyer also announced good news for the park's fenced-off Small Dog Area, which previously had not been earmarked for upgrades in the project. After complaints from owners of small dogs (defined as 25 pounds or less), Meyer said that County Parks was able to “adjust” the project scope with the contractor, Wells & West, to add a separate water line to the 1 ¾-acre area. The new wash/fountain is planned in the main area of the park.
       The line extension will allow the small-dog owners to access running water without having to take their dogs in amongst the larger animals, according to Paul Sundberg, a spokesperson for that group.

Westside Pioneer article