By Shereen Siewert

WAUSAU — A proposed dog park near downtown Wausau would include an agility area, walking paths, a permanent shelter and other amenities, according to city documents released this week.

Members of the city’s parks and recreation committee on Monday will review the plan while hearing fundraising updates from WAUSdog, the group spearheading the project. An updated estimate included in the committee packet shows the park is expected to cost $134,861, a slight increase from preliminary estimates released earlier this year.

The largest expense, at $28,600, is earmarked for vinyl fencing, while a proposed irrigation system comes in a close second at $26,235.

The city currently has limited off-leash hours for dogs at several local parks, but does not have a dedicated dog park. Weston’s dog park opened more than a decade ago, and a dog park in Rib Mountain is set to open this year.

At the April 2 parks and recreation meeting, WAUSdog representative Jamie Heckendorf presented a summary of data the group compiled from various dog parks throughout Wisconsin. Heckendorf told committee members that most dog parks are on city owned land, funded by a combination of city and private funds. In most cases, Heckendorf said, the city officials take care of major maintenance while cleanups are largely handled by volunteers.

Heckendorf’s research showed most parks have running water, shading, picnic tables, benches, waste bags or receptacles and lighting, while some parks feature obstacle and agility course equipment, all of which is being proposed for the Wausau location. None of the parks surveyed have irrigation systems such as the one being proposed in Wausau.

The park is not part of the city’s current budget, but would be considered for the upcoming year. Private fundraising is underway to help defray the cost to taxpayers.

The 2-acre parcel, located at 224 S. Fourth Street, was selected over three alternate sites. The city, which purchased the property in 2007 for just under $19,000, is subject to approval by the Department of Natural Resources due to required environmental remediation. Environmental cleanup costs are not reflected in the city’s dog park estimate.

The proposed site for the park is property the city purchased in 2007 for just under $19,000, according to the Marathon County Land Records System.Dog Park Cost Estimate