BAXTER — A dog park is within leaping distance after a majority of the Baxter City Council approved a study and the park site.
About 14 people attended the Tuesday, April 2, City Council meeting with several bringing forth their concerns with a dog park in their neighborhood because of possible noise, additional traffic and loss of trees for its construction.
After at one point looking at 30 potential locations, the potential site for the park was down to two top choices in recent weeks. Tuesday, the council approved the dog park study from consultants at Widseth, which included the No. 1 choice of city-owned land at Clearwater Road and Inglewood Drive with a map showing the park, with areas for large and small dogs, behind residential areas on Grand Oaks Drive. The second choice was the North Water Tower location at Inglewood Drive and Woida Road.
It’s my hope that you'll stay tuned and watch it play out and be pleased with the final product.
Connie Lyscio, council member
Consultant Jillian Reiner, Widseth landscape architect, went over the options and presented the report to the council.
Residents expressed concerns during the recent open house, in parks commission minutes and at the City Council meeting. Concerns from the open house included those who were against both locations, that a dog park would make dogs living in the neighborhood restless, wetlands on the site, loss of trees and impact on homeowners, there are better uses for tax dollars and people may come from outside the area or outside Baxter to use the park.
Contributed / City of Baxter
Those living in the Grand Oaks twin homes spoke of concerns for noise as they use their patios or yards, concern for smell and concern with people coming and going, with one person stating “basically do not want to be near as moved here for peace and quiet.” Others also mentioned they were seniors who moved to the neighborhood for a safe, peaceful and comfortable neighborhood and they didn’t think others would want a dog park in their backyard either. Others said they moved to the location because of the beautiful trees and the forested area affords privacy while they are close to amenities.
“We are against a dog park near our property,” the homeowner stated. “A dog park brings with it additional foot and vehicle traffic, litter, noise disturbance — everything we moved to the City of Baxter to get away from. There is open land that we drive past every day that could easily serve as an area for a dog park. To us it makes no sense to put a dog park in the middle of a residential area.”
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Council member Jeff Phillips asked if the resolution could be split, separating approval of the dog park study from approval for the recommended site between Inglewood Drive and Grand Oaks Drive.
Phillips said it wasn’t anything against the study, which he thought was very good.
“I just think there's a significant surge from the neighboring public to not — to just go forward with it,” Phillips said. He also noted it tied in with the vote to spend money to renovate Oscar Kristofferson Park and add a fourth baseball field. Phillips said he wasn’t going to vote for a penny to be spent on boys' baseball or dogs until girls in Baxter are also being considered. Phillips has previously noted a lack of facilities, such as softball fields, for girls.
With the study pointing to the site choice, there was a short discussion on how that could be separated. In the end, it was left as one item. Council member Connie Lyscio, long a proponent of a dog park, moved to approve the study and the Clearwater/Inglewood site. She answered concerns as well.
“I don't anticipate a huge influx of traffic going to the dog park,” Lyscio said. “I don't see that it's going to be different than what I've heard with children.”
Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch
When asked about tree removal, Reiner said it would be minimal. Community Development Director Josh Doty also reiterated that shade and trees were important for the dog park.
“It's pretty well known that I've been a real strong advocate for the dog park as well as parks for people. I just have very strong feelings that it’s going to be a positive,” Lyscio said. “That will remain to be seen, but my belief is that the people who live in Baxter expect good things and they deserve good things, and when we're going to do something we want to do it well. It’s my hope that you'll stay tuned and watch it play out and be pleased with the final product.”
The council voted 4-1 with Phillips opposed.
Dog park study
Baxter is home to about 9,400 residents as of the 2021 Census and is growing at a rate of 2.2% annually. In 2023, the city issued 142 dog licenses.
The study noted property screening, such as vegetation or berms, may be used to discourage outside distractions that encourage barking. The study also identified a 150-foot minimum for the distance from a fenced dog park to residential homes or playgrounds, athletic fields or recreational courts, although it noted 200 feet is preferred while noting landscape screening or topography can reduce the needed distance.
The study evaluated 30 potential sites, both city and privately owned, of at least 1.5 acres. The study identified 25 potential parcels of public land, which were whittled down to eight and then two as the
top choices to create a Baxter dog park
.
The No. 1 choice was city-owned land near the intersection of Clearwater and Inglewood Drive for its low cost, accessibility, soil and topography, screening and proximity to high density housing.
Goals in choosing sites looked at access, parking opportunities, pedestrian access for promoting walkability, flat and well-drained area, water and shade, and minimizing disruption to natural habitat. The study also looked at economic impact and population growth.
The property covers 27.2 acres, much of it wooded with a wetland on one side. In addition to the park itself, the property has the potential to provide walking trails for leashed dogs, an area for parking and an option to have a dedicated site for smaller dogs. One of the benefits the study noted was preserving green space with the dog park.
The second choice property was the city’s North Water Tower property at the intersection of Woida Road and Inglewood Drive. The area is largely open with screening on the perimeter of the 3.2 acres. It is also close to high-density housing, is low cost, accessible and meets the other metrics for distance from a residence.
Opposition from neighbors was heard at the open house, the city’s parks commission and before the City Council Tuesday, April 2.
Recommendations included the city could consider requiring users to register their dog or pay membership fees to access the dog park, noting “many other communities institute membership programs to control access, enforce penalties for rules violations, and recover some of the cost associated with operation and maintenance of their dog parks. … It is not recommended that Baxter institute a membership program for dog park access at this time, but should continue to evaluate the costs and benefits of such a program as more dog parks are added to the park system.”
Costs
Costs won’t be fully known until the dog park is designed and amenities determined, but Widseth provided a look at some estimated costs. Other costs for surfacing and the parking area were not included.
- Site preparation and grading may cost $15,000 to $20,000,
- Water fountain could be $5,000-$6,000,
- Park monument sign could be $3,500,
- Trash receptacle (each), $950,
- Lighting (each) $13,500,
- Single stall flush restroom, $65,000-$90,000,
- Pet waste station, $650 each,
- Shade structures $12,000 to $17,000 each,
- Dog agility components $10,000-$15,000,
- Double gate, $2,500 each.
Next steps
“The next steps to implementation of the park will be to work with landscape architects and engineers to create a final layout that includes separate areas for large and small dogs, agility equipment, seating, shade structures, water stations, waste disposal bins, and other amenities chosen by the city,” the study stated.
In the dog park study, Widseth stated the design team would assist with the development of a final budget for the design, construction and maintenance of the park and explore funding options, including grants, donations, sponsorships, fundraising events and public-private partnerships.
Public outreach
Efforts to add a dog park to the city have been in the making for an extended time. On Sept. 5, 2023, the City Council approved the agreement with Widseth to complete a dog park study, evaluate potential locations and make recommendations. The 2024 dog park study was undertaken by a team consisting of GIS analysts, park designers, engineers, the Parks and Trails Commission, and city staff.
The subject of the dog park was before the council multiple times, information regarding the study was posted on the city’s website and Facebook page and the study was reviewed before the Parks and Trails Commission Jan. 22 and before the council Feb. 6. Notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the top two sites. The city also hosted an open house on Feb. 29. The parks commission recommended approval of the Clearwater site on March 18.
Baxter dog licenses
- 2023 — 142
- 2022 — 119
- 2021 — 139
- 2020 — 150
- 2019 — 152
Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at @DispatchBizBuzz.
