By Andy Chappell-Dick

With the approval of Bluffton Village Council, a local group will continue planning and fundraising for a new dog park, with construction set for spring.

At the October 21 Council meeting, Councilor Ben Stahl reported on a series of meetings held by the Parks and Recreation Committee with Matthew Ellerbrock, a local resident who has been exploring the idea.  Stahl stated that the park is proposed for Village-owned land on Lake Street, but would be built entirely with donations.

A similar public-private partnership is the Bluffton Disc Golf Association, which created an elaborate and popular disc golf course at the Bluffton Village Park.  The Bluffton Community Dog Park Association would have a similar agreement with the Village that ensures the facility is open to the public and is well managed and maintained. 

Ellerbrock was present at the meeting to answer questions from Council.  He'd already worked with Village administration to come up with a proposed layout for the park, which would include fenced areas for large and small dogs, a water fountain and off street parking.  He said a Village requirement to pave the parking area may balloon the budget to around $60,000.  Included in the project, planners want to purchase several bag dispensers to put around town, encouraging residents to clean up after their dogs.  "We want to change the culture in this town," Ellerborck stated.

Stahl told Council that their next move would be to give approval of the concept so that Ellerbrock's group can continue with fundraising.  The motion was made, and it passed unanimously.