Dogs playing at Whitefish’s dog park can often get covered in dirt and mud, and their owners would rather clean them up a bit before heading home in the car. It’s a trend the Hugh Rogers WAG park board has noticed and it’s beginning construction on the solution — a new two-station dog wash is expected to open in mid-July.

Funds for the $20,000 project were raised through private funds and in-kind donations.

“We’ve had patrons asking for this for years,” said Jim Lockwood, WAG president. “It gets really muddy there in the spring.”

The fenced dog-wash area will be located adjacent to the small dog section of the park. The design includes a concreted pad, drainage and two concrete benches donated by the Great Northern Heights homeowners association. Architect Dia Sullivan donated her work for the design.

Whitefish City Council June 20 approved donating the impact fee costs for the project in the amount of about $1,200.

“I know how important this park is to the community,” Councilor Andy Feury said. “The park is a big economic driver. People come to Whitefish because we have a dog park. This project adds to the value of the park.”

Lockwood said the wash station will be a nice addition to the park.

“If it’s not already, the park will be a state-of-the-art dog park when we’re finished,” he said.

The six-acre Hugh Rogers WAG Park opened in June 2009. The Whitefish Animal Group, known as WAG, has worked through fundraising and volunteer efforts to develop the park. A pavilion was added in 2012 and the previously closed pond was revamped and opened in 2014.

To date the cost to complete the park is estimated at more than $300,000, including donations and in-kind work, according to Lockwood. That figure does not include the hours donated by board members and community volunteers.

In March 2015 USA Today placed the Whitefish park on its list as one of the top 10 best dog parks in the U.S.