Construction of the dog park is projected to begin July 2019 and it should open in November 2019.
Criteria for the dog park, which will be located at Central Park, include
- Size – 2-3 acres
- Fenced for off-leash activities
- Programmable for dog park related activities
- Designed for humans with dogs
- Designed for health, safety and welfare of humans and dogs
- Water fountains, restrooms, lighting, seating and shade
- Buffer between nearby neighborhood and dog park
Staff told council that one-half of an existing building south of the dog park will be used for all-weather space to allow for a programmable area for activities such as “dog weddings.” (I’m not kidding.) The other half of the building will be demolished.
The pros and cons of artificial turf and natural turf, along with the size of the buffer to the north were discussed.
The city’s Parks Board did not approve the criteria because the size of the buffer and they would prefer that a net be added at the nearby baseball field for the safety of the dogs and humans at the dog park. The board will approve the design with these changes.
Skate park
The skate park, which was to be located behind Granger Recreation Center at Central Park, could now be constructed at Rick Oden Park because of lack of District 2 support for the project.
The skate park criteria include:
- Must be within 10-minute drive of downtown Garland
- Must not be adjacent to a school
- Must utilize existing infrastructure
- Must enhance quality of the park
- Must include 150’ buffer from nearest home
When the above items were set, Central Park and Rick Oden Park were the only existing parks that met all criteria. Central Park was selected as site because to locate the skate park at Rick Oden Park would require removing existing amenities.
The concern now is that District 2 residents do not want the skate park in their district. District 5 Council Member Rick Aubin told staff and council that his district would like to have the skate park at Rick Oden Park. Staff and the Parks Board will look again at Rick Oden and Central and make a recommendation.
District 2 Council Member Deborah Morris suggested that “community support” be added to the list of criteria.