Dog park: Park could be ready in May

Talk about it

Pepper’s Dog Park is close to completion and could be ready for Jamestown dog owners next month, the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission learned Monday.

All that’s needed now for the dog park to be complete in southwest Jamestown is the installation of a waterline and fencing with signs, said Commissioner Joyce Heinrich at the commission’s meeting Monday evening.

The commission unanimously approved $1,600 total for about 20 signs around the park, to be done by Newman Signs.

At February’s meeting the commission approved $27,484 for fencing from Newman Fence, and $7,700 for the installation of the waterline by Scherbenske & Son Excavation Inc.

All companies are from Jamestown.

In December 2010, Reuben and Clarice Liechty donated 17 acres of land along 13th Street Southwest to the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Foundation. Two acres of that will be used for the dog park. One stipulation of the donation was that the park had to be named after Pepper, the Liechtys’ son’s family dog.

A dog park has been discussed in Jamestown since prior to 2006.

“It was a long battle and it’s been won,” Heinrich said after the meeting. “Our board has been 100 percent behind it — everyone on our board. It’s just been great to have a board like that, they all understand it’s something new we’re going to get behind and try.”

In other news the commission heard a report from Marlyn Bertsch, Hillcrest Municipal Golf Course superintendent. Several holes on the course contain sand traps that continue to be inundated with water each year, he said.

“I’d love to eliminate that headache,” Bertsch said. “We wore out 15 pumps in the last several years.”

He said he will get estimates to repair or eliminate the water-soaked bunkers for the commission’s next meeting May 14.

“We spend more money on labor pumping sand traps than we do anything all year,” he said.

Finally, Chairman Larry Knoblich reported that there are two candidates for two open seats on the commission.

Commissioner Wade Spitzer said he didn’t think he was running again. Applications to run have to be completed and turned in by Friday.

“I’m disappointed that more people don’t want to get involved,” Knoblich said. “If you have a complaint, or want to make a change, or improve something, get involved. That’s kind of too bad.”

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, parks, dogs, pets