Plans advance on proposed public dog park in Oakmont

Linda Merle of Arnold visits Oakmont often for medical appointments with her dogs, Mopsy and Nixon, in tow.

Within the borough, dogs must be leashed and are not permitted to run at large.

A proposed outdoor dog recreation site called Chateau Beach Dog Park would provide an unleashed area for dogs to roam and play, if Oakmont officials approve the 1-acre park along Allegheny Avenue.

For Merle, having a dog park would provide more room to roam for her pets.

“That would be really wonderful. It would allow my dogs to socialize with other dogs, and we’d get them off-leash,” Merle said. “I don’t have a dog park in Arnold.”

Borough Manager Scot Fodi explained Tuesday that the land originally was slated to be a kayak park, with preliminary drawings created and $200,000 in state grant money secured.

Estimates on the kayak park, however, proved to greatly exceed the grant award.

“The first bids came in and phase one of the kayak park was over $500,000, and it was completely cost prohibitive,” Fodi said.

Former Councilwoman Tracey Holz inquired about utilizing the property in a different way, and the recreation board aims to preserve and protect the natural flora of the area with the dog park.

The property, which is near the riverfront, is owned by the borough.

 

The amount of work required to transform the space into a dog park will be minimal. The park will require very little change to the property, other than to add a fence around the uppermost portion, borough officials said.

Once completed, dogs will be permitted to play off-leash inside the park. A 6-foot-high chain link fence will surround the park, and the facility will be locked each night.

The park will include separate areas for small and large dogs. A gravel lot will be available for parking.

In total, the cost of the dog park is estimated at just over $200,000.

“The state authorized us to reconceptualize the project based solely on fiscal needs,” Fodi said.

Council is expected to review the design concept during its Feb. 6 meeting and vote on the park in late spring.

The contract is expected to offer a 90-day timeframe for the work to be done. It is expected that the park would be completed over the summer.

The bulk of the work involves grading for the parking area.

“The topography there is pretty straightforward,” Fodi said.

Future borough plans include securing a location closer to the Allegheny River to create an affordable kayak launch.