Where should Appleton put a dog park? Downtown bluff site, Memorial Park among the ideas
Reader question: If the residents around Pierce Park don't want a dog park, where, exactly, do they suggest it be located? It's ridiculous that Appleton doesn't have a dog park.
Answer: The proposal to create an off-leash dog exercise area at the southwest corner of Pierce Park generated blowback from residents during a neighborhood meeting for several reasons: fears of noise and odor, concerns over parking and safety, and potential conflicts with schoolchildren attending nearby Jefferson Elementary School.
Common Council member Alex Schultz, who floated the idea of the dog exercise area at Pierce, acknowledged the difficulty of adding such a facility to an established neighborhood.
"Nobody really wants a dog park next to their house," Schultz said.
While the focus of the meeting was on the Pierce site, not where else a dog exercise area should be located, several suggestions have emerged in the aftermath.
Pierce Park neighbor Janie Stevenson pointed to the cleared downtown bluff site that once was occupied by Trinity Lutheran Church and now is owned by U.S. Venture. It no longer is needed, at least in the near term, for the company's new corporate headquarters.
"It's a huge area," Stevenson said. "I'm just saying there are other places."
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Appleton resident Bill Mullen said the large, open field south of the stormwater pond on South Kensington Drive on the city's east side might be suitable for a dog park.
"I see people out there running their dogs from time to time," Mullen said. "Only thing bad is there's no shade, but trees could be planted."
The property, though, isn't owned by Appleton. Outagamie County land records show the 29-acre parcel belongs to the Chris J. Hartwig Revocable Trust.
Appleton native Jerry Reardon proposed using a small part of Memorial Park for a dog park. Memorial Park, located on East Witzke Boulevard, encompasses 143 acres.
"That park is HUGE!" Reardon wrote in an email. "Fence off a 1-acre area in a remote, less-used section of that park, and there ya have it! It wouldn't infringe on anything!"
Parks and Recreation Director Dean Gazza shared a similar idea of placing a dog exercise area in the center of a large park, away from residences.
In addition to Memorial Park, Gazza mentioned using the Pierce Park ravine, which is doesn't abut residences and could benefit from additional activity.
Until Appleton settles on a site, the closest dog park for Appleton residents is Outagamie County's Northland Dog Park at 2830 French Road in Grand Chute.
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Residents offer suggestions on where Appleton should put a dog park
