SALAMANCA — The city of Salamanca may soon have a place for Lassie, Toto, Winn-Dixie and Balto to come together for fun and games with their owners.
The Common Council Wednesday approved a memorandum of agreement between the city and the Seneca Nation to create a dog park at Sycamore Park.
“It’s been a joint project that we’ve been working on with the Nation,” said Mayor Sandra Magiera.
According to the memorandum of agreement (MOA), the roughly half-acre dog park will have octagonal corners and a fenced-in area so that large dogs and small dogs can be separated. The project cost estimate is about $23,000.
The park will also have two water stations, with one water station being ADA compliant, as well as adequate waste disposal stations throughout. Plans also include having appropriate signage designating it as a public area and informing the public of the dog park rules for owners and dogs.
Per the MOA, the Seneca Nation would be responsible for all construction materials necessary for the infrastructure of the dog park, with any provided in-kind services by either entity mutually agreed upon by the Nation and the city. Once construction of the park is complete, the city shall have the sole responsibility to operate and maintain it to ensure it remains suitable for public use.
“Because it’s a city park, (the Nation) is doing the dog park, and our portion is to redo the basketball court and to resurface and re-net the tennis courts to make a pickleball court out of one and a tennis court out of the other,” Magiera said.
Alderman Barry Smith, R-Ward 3, who is chair of the Recreation Commission, said the commissioners liked the idea of the project when discussed at their meeting earlier that day.
Additionally, the MOA has the Nation and city to agree to use their best efforts to encourage Senecas, city residents, local businesses, civic organizations, youth groups and dog park users to volunteer services or raise funds for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the park. The city, in consultation with the Nation, would maintain approval authority over all proposed improvements.
Described in the Nation’s proposal to the city, the idea for the dog park came after hearing from multiple community members who said they had been traveling to Ellicottville, Olean and Jamestown for their pets to exercise and play in their dog parks. Based on community input, it was suggested that the Nation explore the possibility of creating a dog park on the Allegany Territory.
Following a request for comment by the Nation, goals for the dog park project were to create outdoor activities that can support a healthier community by encouraging exercise, togetherness and responsibility; to construct the park using Nation and city resources and community volunteers; and have the park make connections to local assets such as trails and other parks.
Sycamore Park was chosen, in part, due to its location in the heart of the city, connection to sidewalks, nearby basketball and tennis courts for other recreation, adequate parking and water fountain hookups already in place.
Other potential locations suggested for the park included the vacant lot next to Seneca One Stop off Broad Street, the old hospital site off Parkway Drive, Crowley Park off River Street and the empty lot next to the Seneca Arts and Learning Center off Hetzel Street.
To help with the dog park project, the council also approved a three-year subscription with SeeMyLegacy, a community engagement and fundraising platform out of Rocky River, Ohio, for $6,897.
City clerk Tracy Chamberlain said the online platform would allow the city to set up memorial pages on the city website so people can donate toward fundraisers, such as memorial benches in the park.
“The historical society could do a page for them, and the youth center could do one for them,” she explained. “People can donate right on the webpage, and that money will come back to the accounts they’re supposed to go to.”
