Canine conundrum
Jeff Selle | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 5 months AGO
COEUR d'ALENE - The future of Central Bark Dog Park is uncertain as the land beneath it is in the process of being sold.
Lutheran Academy of the Master is bidding to buy vacant land adjacent to Northshire Park from the Coeur d'Alene School District. If all goes well, the sale is expected to close on Sept. 30.
"At this point we don't have any comment," said Shelly Matthews, principal of LAC, referring to the future of the popular dog park. " I understand that there is some curiosity, but this is awfully new."
Matthews said she has a board meeting next week and they will discuss the issue, but she doesn't expect any announcement on the park until mid-September.
Central Bark, opened in 2010, is Coeur d'Alene's first dog park. It was developed through a partnership with the volunteer dog park association, the city of Coeur d'Alene and the Coeur d'Alene School District.
Bob MacDonald, chair of the Kootenai County Dog Park Association, said the news of the sale was disappointing, but expected.
The park was always considered to be in a temporary location.
"We kind of knew this was coming," he said. "Our lease was only year to year, so it wouldn't be too difficult to end it."
MacDonald said he has not been contacted by the new owners, and no one has contacted the city yet either.
Doug Eastwood, Coeur d'Alene's park director, said the city managed the dog park and leased the property from the school district.
"Our three-year lease agreement ran out last year," he said. "We were trying to get a renewal when the district announced the land was going up for sale."
But even if the lease renewal was successful, Eastwood said the lease agreement had language that would have nullified the agreement when the property sold.
"If they call us and want us out of there, we would be obligated to move it," Eastwood said.
If the dog park has to move, Eastwood said the city would start looking for a property nearby to keep the park on the west side of town.
"If it happens, we'll take a look at that, but we haven't done any of that yet," he said. "We are in a wait-and-see mode right now until we hear from the new owners."
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