Get Ready to Mingle

Allen Park dog owners interested in the city creating a park for their pets will be getting their way later this year.

Several city departments are working with an ad hoc committee to iron out the details of the park, which will be located near the statue of Rusty the dog on one-and-a-half acres on the grounds of the Department of Public Services (DPS) at 24000 Outer Drive. The artwork was relocated from the former campus of Baker College.

“We hope to have it open by early to mid-summer,” said DPS Director Aaron Filipski.

Since the property is partially located in Melvindale, the park will be open to Melvindale residents as well. All participants will purchase a pass to gain access to the park. The cost of the pass has not been determined.

“A dog park is a very popular amenity,” Filipski said. “There’s a community within the community of the members.”

Since Filipski oversaw a dog park for his previous employer, the City of Royal Oak, he has been tapped to get Allen Park’s park built and opened. The Allen Park Department of Parks and Recreation, the city clerk’s office and even the mayor’s office have been involved, and the city council has approved the creation and funding of the park.

A dog park has been a topic for several years in Allen Park. Filipski said the “gears started turning” last April. Staff met with an ad hoc dog park committee to discuss needs, options and overcoming any challenges, such as truck traffic and sharing parking space with city employees.

“We spent time laying out some designs with the users in mind,” Filipski added.

He also sourced “the appropriate vendors,” such as a concrete provider, a fencing contractor and technology providers that would supply access key fobs to users and closed-circuit cameras to keep an eye on the park.

The participants met again in the fall when a rough layout was presented. Filipski said the committee will draft a user agreement, rules for the park and a price for users. He said the park will be divided into two parts: one for larger dogs, the other for smaller dogs. Both sections will be fenced.

Parks and Recreation Director Rob Fulton said participating dogs will have to be registered in the city and have all their shots. Filipski said the dog owners will police the park, saying all members will want the rules to be enforced and for everyone to be respectful.

Community surveys indicated there was high level of interest in a dog park in the city. Mayor Gail McLeod appointed several members to the dog park committee, including Allen Park dog lovers Pam and Wayne Smith, who have eagerly surveyed other dog parks in the region.

“Pam and Wayne have been an integral part of moving the dog park forward,” Fulton said. “They have passion and enthusiasm for this to become a reality. I know it’s a vital piece to add to our community offerings and to maintain our momentum as a very aggressive and progressive community.”

The Smiths have plenty of experience taking their 6-year-old Boston Terrier, Tess, to dog parks, especially when they visit Dunedin, Florida, for about five months a year. Locally, they visit WOOFhaven, a dog park in Woodhaven.

“So many other cities have dog parks,” Pam said. “We’re snowbirds in Florida. We take our pup to a dog park every single day. It’s socialization for her and us. It’s a great way to meet people. We’ve met about 40 people at the dog park and, of course, we know every single pup. We enjoy it as much as the pups.”

Wayne is known as the “candy man” at the Florida park because he always provides treats for the four-legged friends.

“Dog parks are an opportunity for people to meet and talk about local issues and make friends,” Wayne said. “It’s a nice way to get out and meet people.”

“We laugh, we talk, we visit and celebrate birthdays,” Pam added. “Outside of the dog park, we have breakfast, lunches and coffee with people we’ve met there.”

The Smiths have resided in Allen Park since 1998 and the dog park concept has excited them as much as anything else in the city.

“I personally like being part of projects that people are excited about, that make a difference and improve quality of life,” Filipski said. “I’m excited about this.”