COLD LAKE - Dog owners in Cold Lake will soon be able to let their furry friends run free at Imperial Park.
Cold Lake city council approved the site, south of the pickle ball courts, for a new off-leash dog park during their June 23 meeting.
"This has been a long-standing request from the community that we are happy to move forward on," said Mayor Craig Copeland. "Staff members will work out the details of the facility based on the budget, but council was able to find a location that will allow for a quick, successful start, as well as some opportunities to expand the park and add amenities in the future."
The location was chosen because of its proximity to parking, having room to scale the size of the park, and the ability to include other amenities at the site.
A total budget of $50,000 for the off-leash dog park was approved in the city's 2020 capital budget.
While the size of the park has yet to be determined, pending prices on fencing, the basic features will include signage, waste bag stations and receptacles, and a staging entrance. There's also the possibility to add separate areas for small and large dogs, benches, shade features, water, lighting, and agility obstacles in the future.
"This is a great start to a facility that we are certain will see a lot of use," Copeland said. "It will give us a chance to see how far the budget goes and, once we receive feedback from the public, council can consider if another phase could become a reality, depending on what future budgets might allow."
