By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
It now has a name and some new benches, and Decatur’s first-ever dog park is moving ever closer to opening its gates to dogs and their owners.
At its meeting Tuesday night, city council approved on two of a required three readings an ordinance establishing rules and regulations for Paws & Play Dog Park, which is situated at the site of the former Evergreen Living facility at the south edge of the Decatur Church of God.
The ordinance includes applicable city parks regulations for the dog park.
The park board recently went over a draft of the proposal and made some changes, which council has accepted.
The ordinance was passed on two readings by council Tuesday night, then tabled until the next meeting, on Wednesday (a day after Election Day), Nov. 8, when passage of the third and final reading is expected.
The ordinance establishes that an annual fee of $30 per household (not dog) will be charged for a membership. Proof of each dog’s vaccinations will need to be turned in to gain a membership, and dogs will have to be four months or older to access the park.
The park board will oversee the park and handle any enforcement questions.
Mayor Dan Rickord praised the efforts of Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert (who oversees the parks department), Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart, and City Attorney Anne Razo.
Putting together the dog park and dotting all of its “I’s” and crossing all the “T’s” hasn’t been an easy process, he said. Local officials have talked with leaders of other communities which have dog parks in order to get Decatur’s ready for use.
“This is probably a combination of six others (communities),” Rickord said.
“This has been a long time coming so we want to do it right the first time,” Gilbert added.
After final passage, some signs will go up and the park’s gates will open.
