Park for canines planned
<p>Building official for the city of Rathdrum, Sherman Hunter nails sheets of oriented strand board to the gable of a new multi-use structure at Majestic park Thursday. Rathdrum plans to add a dog park this year to Majestic Park. It will be outside the softball outfield fence and inside the perimeter fence on the west side of the park.</p>
Rathdrum is unleashing plans for a dog park.
A portion of Majestic Park, east of Meyer Road, is the city's newest park and will be dedicated to pooches and their owners.
"We don't allow dogs in our parks and we know that some community members would love to have a place to take their dogs," said Lance Bridges, Rathdrum's parks and recreation director.
The city has considered adding a dog park in recent years and, now that much of Majestic Park has been developed and space is available, the timing seems right, Bridges said.
The dog park will be located outside a softball field fence and inside the perimeter fence on the west side of Majestic Park. Construction will start this spring.
Bridges said the city is about to start accepting bids on fencing for the park.
"It shouldn't be a major expense," he said.
City officials said the park will open this summer, but an exact date is unknown. They said it's unclear whether the dog park will be permanent.
"Most of the fencing is already in place in the form of the outfield fence combined with the existing exterior fencing of the property," said Brett Boyer, city administrator. "We just need to add some fencing and gates to close it off."
Boyer said the site, which is narrow in some areas and wide in others, has grass and trees.
"We plan to add a water source along with some signs and perhaps later some benches," he said.
Post Falls allows dogs on leashes in some of its parks.
Dave Fair, Post Falls' parks and recreation director, said a dog park is on the radar for that city as well, but it's too early to say when it will become reality.
"We would like to have a stand-alone dog park, but need to obtain appropriate land," Fair said. "It is just one of many amenities that the public would like to see."