6/05/08

Off-leash park site recommended

by Beckye Randall

Marysville dog owners may soon have a place within the city where their four-legged friends can roam free.

Later this month the City Council will consider a unanimous recommendation from the Marysville Parks and Recreation Department to designate a 6-acre portion of Strawberry Fields as an off-leash dog park. The area south of the existing playfields has been identified as an appropriate spot for the park, and is part of a system of walking trails already used informally by many visitors and their pets. The 72-acre athletic field complex is located at 6100 152nd St. NE.

Through a memorandum of understanding, members of the Marysville Dog Owners Group (M-DOG) have agreed to provide volunteer stewardship for the public facility, including picking up garbage, cleaning up dog waste left by negligent owners, trimming over-growth, maintaining trails and more. The group will also install and maintain a kiosk at the off-leash park entrance to provide park rules and tips, and encourage pet owners to be respectful of a pastoral park environment that is flanked by sensitive areas and fish habitat.

“We plan to partner with the City to help visitors gain a better sense of ownership for the park,” said M-DOG member Doug Buell.

The non-profit community group plans to install fencing and gates, signage and furniture for the park. Funding for the improvements will come from Poochapalooza, a summer fundraising event that features information, entertainment and activities for dog owners.

The third annual Poochapalooza, scheduled for July 12 at Asbery Field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is compared to a “county fair for dogs.” All proceeds from the event go toward the development and maintenance of the off-leash dog park.

M-DOG currently has a membership of about 35 local residents and interest in its efforts continues to grow. For more information on the organization, visit www.poochapalooza.org and click on “What is M-DOG?”