If dog owners want a new place to let their four-legged friends run free, they should frequent Fargo's existing dog park in the next month.
During that time, the Fargo Park District will be conducting an informal survey, to see whether owners want the district to build a second dog park.
On a couple of evenings during the next few weeks, Fargo parks employees will hand out surveys to people at the Village West dog park, 45th Street and Ninth Avenue South, the Park Board informally decided at its meeting Tuesday.
The survey will ask questions about how often people use the park, if they're satisfied with the current park's setup and maintenance, and whether they think another dog run would be used, according to a draft handed out at the meeting.
If people want another park, and if the Park Board approves the idea, a second dog run could be built next year, said Park District Executive Director Roger Gress.
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The second park likely would be on the north side of Fargo, Gress said. Commissioners already are considering whether land near the Children's Museum at Yunker Farm could be used for the project, he said.
The existing dog park, opened in 2002, was built for $26,000, according to Forum archives.
Building a second dog park is a great idea, said Brad Wimmer, who was elected president of the board at the meeting.
"The first one has been so successful, the cost is minimal, and it's just one of the unique features of the city," Wimmer said.
Though he's waiting to see what the survey says, Wimmer has little doubt a new park would be used.
"We have so many dogs in the city and some of them are landlocked, in apartments," he said.
In other business, the Park Board also:
E Decided not to make an offer on 46 acres of land north of Fargo, between County Road 31 and the Red River.
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Commissioners said the $6,000-per-acre asking price for the land, owned by Fargo resident Mary Ann Vogel, was too expensive.
E Swore in the two board members who were elected June 8. Commissioner Barb Johnson started her second term Tuesday, and Commissioner Joel Vettel attended his first meeting.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Joy Anderson at (701) 241-5556
