Oswego is looking to create a community dog park near the Public Works facility on the village’s southeast side.
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Trustees will meet as a committee of the whole at 6 p.m. Tuesday and discuss the proposal for the dog park at 100 Theodore Drive.
The village-owned site was selected because of its proximity to PrairieFest Park and the availability of existing parking, Oswego Public Works Director Jennifer Hughes said in a report to trustees.
Oswego is a dog-friendly community, Hughes said. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 38.4% of households in the village own dogs with an average household having at least two canines, she said.
Based on U.S. Census data, there are 11,215 households in Oswego.
“This translates to more than 6,800 dogs in our community,” Hughes said.
Two other locations were considered for the dog park, including the east side of the Oswego Police Headquarters on Woolley Road and at Venue 1012, the village’s new entertainment pavilion on Station Drive off of Orchard Road.
The police station does not have adjacent parking available and the entertainment venue has limited parking for concert patrons, according to the report.
A concept plan for the dog park shows four paddocks, including two where dogs can get exercise, one designated for small dogs under 35 pounds and the other for larger dogs. Another area could be designated for obstacle courses and training for dogs of all sizes, officials said.
The area presently does not have any trees to provide shade for dogs and their handlers. One option being considered is to construct a fabric sun sail to provide some relief from the sun’s rays, Hughes said.
The base cost for the proposal is an estimated $99,000. The optional sun shade would increase the cost to about $119,000, according to the report. The project would be paid for through the village’s Capital Improvement Program.
Currently there are no dog parks in Oswego. The closest dog parks serve the Fox Valley Park District and Plainfield Park District, Hughes said.
The dog parks in the area do not charge dog owners entrance fees. The Fox Valley Park District recently eliminated its fees for residents and non-residents at the Stuart Sports Complex dog park as a way to promote recreation but also because of staff time that was needed to process dog tags and the policing of the program, Hughes said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.