The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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October 31, 2009

Portion of Crosslin Park going to the dogs

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Dog lovers in Enid soon will have a public exercise area for their pets when the new dog park is completed in Crosslin Park.

Enid Public Works Director Jim McClain said the park will be relatively inexpensive to build, estimated at about $32,000. The park will be directly east of the ballparks on 3.13 acres. The park is divided to keep small dogs and large dogs separate. Small dogs will have about two-thirds of an acre of space, and large dogs approximately two and one-half acres. Each area will have shade, plus there are some trees in the park, McClain said.

“There are about 1,000 feet of fenced-in area and plenty of room for the dogs to run,” McClain said.

The city also will concentrate on removing grass burrs, which frequent the area.

City crews will do the work, erecting the fence and building a sidewalk from the drive to the park gates. A water area is included in the large dog park, but will have to be added to the small dog area. McClain said larger dogs seem more attracted to water than small ones.

“Once they get through the gate they are in their own area,” he said. “Each dog must be accompanied by their owner, who is responsible for the animal and must clean up after the animal.”

The dog park has been discussed for about a year and is one of the most popular projects Enid commissioners have considered. City Manager Eric Benson said at the last commission meeting he had 23 calls and all but one were positive. Summer intern Whitney Box worked on the project and brought it to conclusion. She made two presentations to the commission, which decided Oct. 20 to build the park. If the dog park in Crosslin Park is successful, another could be built convenient to a different area of town, commissioners said.

McClain said city staff members went to Norman and Okmulgee to study their parks and to learn from their mistakes. Box also went to other communities to study their dog parks. The park is fashioned after those that were studied. The park could be open in 30 to 60 days. The fence will be up by then, but sidewalks may not be installed, McClain said.

“It’s an area for dogs to run and play either with their owner or by themselves or with other dogs,” McClain said.

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