Renovations to Castlen Dog Park, located inside Legion Park, are nearing completion. Changes include adding a second entrance, as well as dividing the existing space to create a total of four sections. Owensboro Parks and Recreation Director Amanda Rogers said the upgrades will reduce park closures and create a simpler maintenance routine.
The park was only divided into two sections – one for large dogs and one for small dogs. The parks department has divided the space into quarters to allow the turf enough time to recover and reduce instances where the park is forced to close due to conditions.
“We’ve had so much use, which is a wonderful problem to have, but we have to shut down regularly due to ground conditions,” Rogers said. “We have so much paw traffic that we often end up with a dirt floor. By keeping two sections open at a time, we can allow the ground to rest and make repair work more evenly. »
Rogers said there will still be two operational sections – one small and one large – with plans to rotate openings every Monday.
The second entrance to the dog park will open this Thursday.
Rogers also acknowledged the public outcry for a dog park on the west side of town, saying his department was creating a new parks master plan.
“Our last master plan was until 2015,” she said. “We are currently working on a prioritized list and hope to have a business on board by the end of the fiscal year.”
The plan is essentially a roadmap for the next 10 years and offers citizens the opportunity to complete a survey on what is working, what needs improvement, and more.
“The document will show where we are overextending and detail our needs, such as new programs, amenities, and more,” Rogers said. “It’s another way for us to get feedback from our taxpayers and help elected officials prioritize spending.”