Wednesday, August 27, 2003
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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 |
Dog Park's new location approved by Recreation CommissionBy MICHAEL
BOYLAN
The Peachtree City Council has already approved a dog park and $5,000 in seed money for the project. The dog park committee has raised another $5,000 since then, but until Monday night's Peachtree City Recreation Commission meeting one question remained: Where will the dog park be located? There is now an answer. Initially, the dog park was going to go up near the Kedron Aquatic Center, but there were concerns. According to Fred Bryant, chairman of the dog park committee, there was only a half-acre of usable land, plus parking concerns and the possibility that they would need to add a new path. They also brought in Sheldon Hammond and Rosemary Seymour from the county extension service and both of them felt that there were also erosion problems and runoff problems that could affect the drinking supply. The committee had two other sites in mind: one behind Oak Grove Elementary and one between the Baseball/Soccer Complex and Cooper Lighting on Ga. Highway 74. The Oak Grove location was soon eliminated because of its proximity to the school and a subdivision. The committee found the Hwy. 74 location to be the most suitable as it gave them 2-3 acres of land, no stormwater or erosion issues, existing parking and restrooms in the area and an access road that is cut with another access road planned for the area. "We're asking you to recommend approval of this site at the next City Council meeting," Bryant said to the members of the Recreation Commission. "We feel it would compliment the recreation facilities that are currently there and it is the best site for the community because it is buffered from Hwy. 74 and there are no subdivisions near the location." Commission member Robert Leanard asked Bryant if they would consider moving it farther up Hwy. 74 because if, and when, new soccer fields need to be built, the suggested location of the dog park would be the ideal place for new soccer fields. Randy Gaddo, director of leisure services, said that if justification for new soccer fields arise, it would be a slow process, taking at least two years before they would be completed, giving the city and the dog park plenty of time to move. Other things Bryant mentioned to the commission before gaining their approval was that they would exceed the buffer requirement of 100 feet from Hwy. 74, the dog park would be day use only, the ground at the park would not be grass but decomposed granite, which is easy on the feet of humans and their canine companions but requires minimal maintenance and that there were already rules drawn up that would be enforced, including age requirements, number of dogs and how they are controlled. The dog park committee is also planning on using the seed money from the city to run water out to the area for a water fountain. There will also be benches and a six foot fence around the park instead of a four foot fence. The Recreation Commission approved the new location and now Bryant will give a similar presentation at the Sept. 4 City Council meeting, mentioning the commission's endorsement.
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