WMOK spoke with Metropolis Mayor Don Canada in late February for WMOK’s Coffee Break to discuss city business.
Mayor Canada updated WMOK on the status of a potential dog park in the City of Metropolis.
Early in Canada’s term as Mayor he told WMOK that many community members had asked why Metropolis doesn’t have a dog park.
Mayor Canada looked into it and advised that the Paducah Dog Park was achieved when a group of citizens came together with a plan and presented it to the Paducah City Council. Upon meeting with the City Council they were able to work out the logistics of how to raise funds and how the city might “meet them half way” to assist in making the project come to fruition. The group in Paducah was able to raise $20,000 which the city agreed to match.
Mayor Canada said that while the rules and regulations for the Paducah Dog Park are listed on the site that he was unable to uncover any information about who enforces the rules. For example, if one of the rules is that your dog be fully vaccinated – who checks and verifies that information?
Canada said that he feels the cost of fencing for a Dog Park would be the most prohibitive expense. He estimated that the cost of fencing for a park the size of the baseball park in Metropolis would likely be around $50,000 and that does not including amenities such as picnic tables, a pavilion or other items that attendees would likely want to have. Canada advised that continuing expenses could be expected for upkeep.
Mayor Canada suggested that those interested in a Dog Park in Metropolis should gather and come up with a business plan and present it to the city council for discussion and review. After not receiving any community feedback the city of Metropolis applied for a grant which would assist in financing such a project.
When we spoke in February Canada advised that he has most recently learned regarding the grant that it may be fall before the city receives an answer.
Hear WMOK’s most recent conversation with Mayor Canada regarding the potential of a dog park below:
More from WMOK News on “Metropolis Dog Park”
Metropolis Could See a Dog Park in the Future with the Help of a Community Group – Jun 21, 2021
Metropolis Applies for Grant Which Would Assist in Funding a Dog Park – Aug 23, 2021
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