CA Requests $55,000 More for Dog Park

Columbia Association is asking its board of directors for $55,000 more to build a dog park across from Harper's Choice Middle School.

The additional funds would bring the cost of the 2.7 acre park proposal to $135,000 for construction plus $20,000 spent planning the park during fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

CA's board approved $80,000 in capital funding for the project in the fiscal year 2013 budget, but after receiving a number of bids, the capital improvement department determined that amount wouldn't be enough.

"This budget figure was approved early on in the process before a site was actually selected and without the benefit of detailed cost estimates," wrote Denis Ellis, the director of capital improvements in the bureau of community building for CA, in a memo to CA's board.

Cost estimates for the project include $40,000 for fencing, $20,000 for concrete pads and walkways, $10,000 for water line extensions and $26,000 for parking lot improvements, according to Ellis' memo.

The Harper's Choice Village Board voted to support a plan for the park at the site of two ball fields near Rivendell Lane on Jan. 8.

Plans for the park include a 2 acre large dog area and a separate 0.7 acre small dog area. Both areas would include separate gates and water stations, while five foot high fencing would separate and surround both areas, according to the plans.

CA staff requested the extra $55,000 so they can complete the project sooner, rather than wait until the next budget process and delay construction another year.

Howard County currently has one dog park, Worthington Dog Park, in Ellicott City and is in the process of planning one for construction at Blandair Park in east Columbia.

If built, this proposal would be the first dog park built and operated by Columbia Association.

A 2003 article in Parks & Recreation Magazine that examined dog parks across the country found that the average initial construction cost of a dog park costs between $5,000 and $85,000.

Baltimore City approved an estimated $195,000 in 2012 to replace two aging tennis courts with a dog park at Patterson Park, according to BaltimoreBrew.com.

CA's board of directors is scheduled to discuss the capital increase at their meeting on Thursday.