Our four-legged canine friends will soon have a new place to play downtown, as the Town of Pagosa Springs recently announced its 12,500-square-foot off-leash dog park near the pickleball courts at Yamaguchi Park will be open soon.
According to the town’s website, the new park will open sometime in July and will have designated areas for both larger dogs (over 30 pounds) and smaller dogs (under 30 pounds).
Additional amenities will include a water hydration station and benches for pet owners and visitors to rest, the website states.
In an email to The SUN, Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis explains, “I don’t have an exact opening date yet,” but the park should be open by mid-July and the town will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The dog park will be open from “dawn to dusk,” like all town parks, Lewis said.
Funding for the new dog park comes from the Pagosa Springs Conservation Trust Fund, the website states.
Revenues flow into this account through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Conservation Trust Fund Program, which is funded through state lotto funds and then distributed to local entities, Lewis explains.
Lewis notes the budget for the project is $50,000, and it will stay within budget.
Maintenance of the park will be the responsibility of the town’s parks staff and “will consist of freshing the mulch and making sure the park is clean,” Lewis wrote.
The biggest anticipated maintenance cost, moving forward, will come from maintaining the mulched surface throughout the park, Lewis adds.
derek@pagosasun.com
