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Popular dog park will be unleashed

by Ralph Bartholdt Staff Writer
| June 22, 2018 1:00 AM

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David Lane of Rathdrum wrestles with his dogs as they greet other canines near the gate of Central Bark Dog Park along Atlas Road in Coeur d’Alene. The park is scheduled to close this fall because the property owner plans to build a church there. The park will be relocated, according to the city. (RALPH BARTHOLDT/Press)

COEUR d’ALENE — Go dog, go.

And they do.

David Lane’s shepherd and pitbull mix doesn’t stop.

“He chewed up some luggage this morning, and I said, ‘That’s it, go run.’” Lane opened the gate Thursday leading into Central Bark Dog Park at 3889 W. Nez Perce Road as his other two dogs, a St. Bernard and mastiff mix, as well as a small, blue-eyed rescue dog, seemed equally excited for a chance at some social interaction and play time.

“There are always a lot of tennis balls here, which is good,” Lane said.

Central Bark, which belongs to the city of Coeur d’Alene, is beside a row of tennis courts and adjoins Northshire Park with its playground equipment and shady tables.

But the vibrant park with its giggling children, bird song and dog barks won’t be here much longer.

The property owner, Grace Bible Church, plans to build on the 1.8-acre site next year and the city, which has used the property for one of its four dog parks, is looking for a new location.

City parks director Bill Greenwood said that when the city entered into an agreement with the school district — the property’s former owner — to put a dog park on the vacant ground west of Atlas Road, having to negotiate with another owner was part of the landscape.

The district sold the land to Grace, and the church opted to keep the park intact in exchange for services the city would provide, such as cutting grass, Greenwood said.

Recently, though, the church, headquartered on Prairie Avenue across from the Prairie Shopping Center, had the city review building plans for a structure at the site.

“There isn’t a timeline at all,” said assistant pastor Jim Miller. “We just wanted to find out what we could and couldn’t do (on the property).”

The planning nudged the city into action, however, and Parks and Rec is looking for a place to move its pooch park.

By the time it happens — dismantling the park could begin this fall — Greenwood said he hopes to have a new location to reinstall the fences, signs and benches that many dog lovers have come to cherish.

Brad and Bauny Robb of Post Falls don’t welcome the park’s relocation. They and their dogs and children often use Central Bark to air everyone out.

“It’s a nice area,” said Bauny Robb. “It has the playground and the dog park, so it’s like a big family environment.”

Building Central Bark using a lot of volunteers and donated equipment cost about $10,000, Greenwood said. The next park will re-use what the city already has.

“My hope is we can relocate it in the near vicinity,” Greenwood said.