Washington opens east side dog park

WASHINGTON — City officials announced the opening of a small dog park near Case Field at a council meeting last week, using a grassy area between Redlinger baseball field and the playground.

"We had some concerns about people just using the ball fields as a dog park in itself,“ Parks Superintendent Nick Pacha said. ”So we had that space, and for a low cost we were able to make that small space a dog park. We’re working on getting some signage for it … it’s already got water, in the future we’ll maybe get a pad for a bench and a little shelter. It’s a nice location.“

Pacha said the idea would make use of the otherwise underutilized space. While there has been no opening ceremony, he said the space was available for use now.

“There’s an empty space and there was a need for a dog park on the east side, currently there’s only one on the west side,” he said. “It’s fully enclosed so the dogs can’t get out … it’s small, but it works.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com