Post Falls dog park envisioned
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 9 years AGO
BRIAN WALKER/Press This site west of the Yoke’s Fresh Market grocery store between Seltice Way and Interstate 90 in Post Falls is being explored for what would be the city’s first dog park. The city has tapped a consultant to provide landscape and architectural services to develop a conceptual plan for the park.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — Post Falls has unleashed funds to develop a concept for what would be its first dog park.
The 4-acre site is west of Yoke's Fresh Market grocery store on the north side of Seltice Way and the south side of Interstate 90. It is Idaho Transportation Department right of way.
The City Council has approved a contract up to $5,000 with Verdis to provide landscape and architectural services services to develop conceptual plans for the park.
"We're early on in the conversation," said Bryan Myers, Post Falls parks manager.
Myers said a dog park has been on Post Falls residents' wish list for several years and is identified as a priority in the city's parks master plan.
"It's one of the most commonly expressed needs in Post Falls," Myers said. "We've been looking for a suitable location for a dog park for quite some time."
Currently, dogs are allowed in select parks, including Kiwanis, Falls, Corbin and the native area of Q'emiln, but they must be on a leash. Signs at the city parks state the rules for dogs on the properties.
"This (site next to Yoke's) would be the first designated off-leash dog park in Post Falls," Myers said.
Myers said he believes it would be at least a year before the park would be built as the design would need approval from ITD and Yoke's. The park would be accessed from the southwest portion of the store's parking lot.
Myers said the property fits what the city is looking for with a dog park — more than 2 acres, flat and a visible location.
"Size is paramount," he said. "We also want it along a corridor that's traveled by a large number of people."
Myers said the possibility for the dog park came up during design discussions between ITD and the city's engineering division to improve and develop pedestrian facilities in the area where Seltice goes over I-90.
Verdis is charged with designing a base map, exhibits to illustrate site access, parking and amenity concepts for the first phase of the design. The second phase will include two concepts for the proposed park and a revised preferred alternative to present to the City Council, ITD and Yoke's.
"ITD wants to have it illustrated how the park will function before it signs off on an encroachment permit," Myers said.
ITD verbally agreed to review a plan that provides adequate and safe access and fencing.
Post Falls manages other areas in ITD rights of way, including the arboretums on both sides of the freeway and the city entrance water features along Spokane Street.