Dog Show!

Last night over a hundred people showed up at the Waldo Library in support of creating an off-leash dog park. The meeting was organized by local dog enthusiast Deb Hipp. I think everyone was surprised at the turnout. It was standing room only. Marci Jones of the Parks Department and Councilman Glover fielded questions as did Dena McLean who represented an organization that successfully put in a dog park in Blue Springs. Potential sites were discussed like Sunnyside Park, Holmes Park, Tower and South Oak Parks. What stood out the most to me was the cost. Upwards of $300K for a 5 acre off-leash park. Where do the costs come from? Fencing, water lines, shelter houses, benches, tables, etc. I was skeptical when Ms. Jones quoted a price of $35/ft for the fence. "That doesn't sound right to me" I turned around and said to the two women standing behind me. "It isn't" one replied. "I'm in construction and that price is way high." "Someone's jacking up the costs." Then the discussion turned to ways of funding the park. Of course PIAC funds immediately were discussed because that's how the Penn Valley dog park was funded. I once again turned to my new friends, "Has anybody thought of going out and finding some corporate backing?" "Don't you think IAMS or Purina might like to have their logos splashed all over a park that caters to dog owners?" A few minutes later somebody in the crowd suggested the same thing. The idea received a lukewarm response from the Parks Manager. She felt the Parks Commissioners wouldn't go for such a thing. I chuckled to myself remembering how that same group fought the policy change on City trucks that my CRC Committee put forth. The sad thing to me is there was enough expertise, desire and labor in that room to put a dog park together for next to nothing. The two women standing with me knew construction. Water lines? No problem. Fencing? They knew a couple of people. With some creativity and a little bit of flexibility from the City, dogs and their owners could be frolicking together by this time next year. But instead? We go through "the process" and "the proper channels" and we fight our way through the City's bidding and purchasing process using "preferred vendors" and heaven forbid there be a corporate logo anywhere. When did government become a hindrance and not a helper?