Dog park not just for man's best friend

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The new sign at the new McCook K9 Korner Dog Park in McCook’s Barnett Park.
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook City Council member Gene Weeden sees an off-leash dog park as “one more amenity” to offer McCook residents and those thinking about moving to the community.

During a community chat session called “Coffee with a Cop” Tuesday morning at Sehnert’s Bakery, Weeden said so many people have dogs — and especially big dogs. A dog park has been requested for several years, he said.

Over coffee and doughnuts, volunteers of the non-profit “McCook K9 Korner Dog Park” project explained the particulars and priorities of the park to be located in Barnett Park.

During a “Coffee with a Cop” session Tuesday morning, dog park volunteers, below from left, Kellie Soden and Cathy and Bruce McDowell, and, on the right, Gene Mahon, explain park plans to Howard Kool, center.
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

“Dogs are such an important part of so many people’s lives and families,” said Ronda Graff, a supporter of the off-leash dog park concept and vice president of the “K9 Korner” organization. “Barnett Park is already a popular place for people with dogs. We’re lifting up an asset already in place,” she said

The park will give dog owners the opportunity to meet like-minded dog-lovers, said K9 Korner president Kellie Soden, and for dogs to play off-leash and socialize with other dogs.

Soden said a priority is fundraising for the fence — professionally-installed 5-foot-tall chain link perimeter and inner fences (separate yards for big dogs and little dogs), and an 8x8-foot (or possibly 10x10-foot) fenced entry area within each large yard. Dogs are taken off of and returned to their leashes within these small fenced entry areas, Soden said, so they are not off-leash outside of the confines of the dog park and running free in Barnett Park.

The fencing is estimated to cost $34,000.

Two city water hydrants are already within the dog park area, and the city will provide water, insurance, mowing and waste/trash pick-up. The K9 Korner group will be responsible for daily clean-up and maintenance of the dog park.

Other initial expenses for the organization will be the purchase of and installation of poop bag stations; signage of the rules and regulations; and security cameras — purchased with donations and/or memorials to the dog park.

Yearly expenses will be keeping waste bag stations full and maintenance of the security cameras, all of which organizers foresee being paid for with donations.

The group has been awarded a $5,000 matching grant from the McCook Community Foundation Fund, and Soden said they have applied for additional grants.

One Boy Scout has indicated to Soden that he wants to designate a project for the dog park as his Eagle Scout project. Soden said the group welcomes the donation of benches.

Pam Gaston — K9 Korner volunteer, owner of Pet Pros and a dog’s best friend — will offer classes to teach dogs “dog park manners.” K9 Korner volunteer Julie Karp said that the classes will be wonderful, but it’s ultimately the responsibility of individual dog owners to know their dog’s ability to play well with others and their sociability skills and limitations.

For more information on K9 Korner, go to its Facebook page or call Soden at (308) 589-3459.

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  • Great effort! Another nice addition to the park system!

    -- Posted by jkugler on Wed, Nov 13, 2019, at 9:47 PM
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