Board supports dog, bike park concepts

Besides offering overwhelming support for a bike park and dog park presented to them this week, Spencer Park Board members encouraged both respective groups to begin raising money for their proposed local endeavors. Board members also stated publicly their lack of support for a suggested pet cemetery's eventual placement in a city park.

The concept of a bike park was first broached locally when Cedar Schmidt sat through a Feb. 5, 2003, public park forum until he could offer his proposed project for Spencer Park Board members to consider. Then then-kindergarten student at Johnson Elementary suggested a BMX or stunt bike course with jumps. Schmidt also informed the board of several specific possibilities he'd like to see take place in the hoped-for area.

The local bike park concept was reintroduced in July 2007 when former Spencer Park Board member Larry Clausen mentioned he'd visited with Jason Chaffin, owner of Bikes, Boards and Blades in Spencer, regarding the possible placement of a bike park where the sand volleyball court is currently located near the Spencer Family Aquatic Center. At that time, Clausen was reminded that board members had discussed possibly adding the proposed bike park onto the existing skatepark.

Chaffin, along with a dozen youth and a handful of parents greeted Spencer Park Board members again Tuesday night with their current bike park proposal. The group, which began informally meeting about the concept again in February, presented the idea of a 100-by-100 square foot concrete pad with various ramps Tuesday night.

According to Chaffin's estimations, the park's preliminary design, complete with several ramps, could carry a preliminary price tag ranging between $160,000 and $205,000. The supporters hope, he added, would be to eventually grow the concept and complete the proposed bike park in three stages.

During his presentation to the board, Chaffin mentioned Spencer is one of a few towns its size in the area without a bicycle-accessible park. He then listed those already placed in Spirit Lake, Sioux City, Algona, Mason City, the one being planned in Storm Lake, as well as one in Mankato, Minn. and two in Sioux Falls, S.D.

While the local enthusiasts indicated their preferred choice would be having a park potentially located next to the existing skatepark, which Spencer Park Board members backed Tuesday night, the group also mentioned the open grass area south of the aquatic center's parking lot as another possible site.

"As you all know, we don't have any funding to do anything with the bike park at this time," Spencer Park and Recreation Director Delray Bredehoeft told the group which had gathered following Chaffin's presentation. "So, I think what Jason is really wanting to do is kind of get the ball rolling and maybe do some fundraising and start working toward the goal. Obviously, there's more design work that needs to go into the slab area, and the numbers need to be refined. We may even want to look at two or three different companies to see which would be the best direction and to make sure we're selecting the best one."

The board then gave its blessing to the group to formally organize and begin its fundraising efforts.

"I personally think it's a wonderful idea. I think that there's, obviously, great demand," Chairman Dick Montgomery commented. "It seems to me that we've always had a little conflict between the skateboard people and people with bikes -- who've been patient and waiting. I think the skateboard park has proven itself as being a wonderful success and think this would be too. I think the real question now is how to pay for it."

As Chaffin notified board members the group has ideas about potential fundraisers, they were told the board would be willing to work with it in the acquisition of grant money.

Committee members sought for dog park

Understanding the board has no money in its coffers for development of a new park, Megan Whitaker offered a preliminary three-phase implementation plan for a local dog park where owners could take dogs off their leashes.

The proposed park catering to dogs and their owners was given an initial green light by Spencer Park Board members in November. Whitaker offered a revised plan Tuesday night. (See rendering below.)

As she described the perceived small and large dog areas being divided by a fence, Whitaker suggested the park's small dog paddock might be for canines under 30 pounds. While any dog would be allowed to enter the park's large dog section, it could be designated an "enter at your own risk" area with a circular trail in it, she added of the hoped-for park design.

Whitaker then outlined the project's three phases. The first, estimated to cost $160,000, would include site signage, site seeding, pet stations, a six-foot chain link fence and gates, concrete walks and shelter pads. The park's second phase, calculated to carry a $55,000 price tag, would include the placement of shelters, restrooms, trash receptacles, tables, benches and drinking fountains. Its final phase, gauged to cost $25,000, would cover agility equipment installations and tree plantings.

A topic discussed for several years locally, board members approved the dog park's potential placement in the approximately four acres of usable space at DeWolf Park south of U.S. Highway 18. The proposed park has tentatively been christened "Bailey's Place," in memory of Clay County's first K9.

As Whitaker was directed to start formulating a committee to help with the drafting of park rules and fundraising events, Spencer Park Board member Mark Boyd told her, "We support this and think it's a great project. We authorize you to organize a committee to begin fundraising (for a dog park) in the DeWolf area.

Pet cemetery placement scrutinized

The topic of another continuing local subject -- the implementation of a pet cemetery, as suggested by Spencer resident Ted Cate -- was also reintroduced this week.

Bredehoeft reminded the board of its last conversation about placing a pet cemetery in one of the city's parks and the board's lack of interest in it. He then informed the board that city council and public works committee members recently discussed the matter and mentioned placing a pet cemetery in DeWolf Park and writing rules for it.

The Spencer Park and Recreation Director then attempted to assist board members in drafting a formal statement surrounding the topic.

"I'm really thinking that we should probably make a statement that says if there's a desire to have a pet cemetery, it should be put in a special place and also taken care of much like our cemeteries are today," Bredehoeft prefaced the board discussion. " ... It's probably the city council's decision whether they want to run a pet cemetery. It seems like we should have control where the cemetery would be located."

"There are other options the city would have, other than a city park," he continued. "I mean, obviously, they just bought 200 acres of land north of DeWolf. And, we have the landfill area. I think there are some other options that they could probably look at."

Boyd, who offered the first board comments, said he did not agree with a city-sponsored pet cemetery.

"We had one pet of the many we've had that, to me, was worthy of some lasting recognition. But, to have a city sponsor this type of a situation is beyond the scope of what a city's responsibilities should be, I think."

John Zinn, Jason Warren and Kim Bates followed suit.

"It seems to me that there's a consensus here that people do not feel the city should get into the pet cemetery business," Montgomery summarized. "There's also a consensus that if we do get into the pet cemetery business, we don't think that park land should be used for one."

In other board discussion and action:

* A June 8 - July 31 contract for summer playground program services in Sunset Park, East Leach Park and Fairview School Park was approved between the city and the Spencer Family YMCA.

* The board tabled action on quotes offered by Midstates Builders and DeLoss Construction, both of Spencer, for work on the basketball court proposed in North School Park.

* Approval was granted on an agreement between the city and the Spencer Family YMCA for operation of the Spencer Family Aquatic Center for the 2009 season.

* Board members authorized the purchase of a $41,850 lawnmower from Northwest Equipment, Inc. Its local bid also included a $4,500 trade-in amount for the Spencer Park and Recreation Department's existing New Holland mower. Bids for wide area, outfront mowers were also received from Van Wall Turf & Irrigation of Des Moines and Turfwerks.

* Board members learned that a followup Westview Memorial Park master planning session is slated for the evening of April 30 at Johnson Elementary School.

* The board was informed that a $6,500 grant has been received from Trees Forever. These funds will be earmarked for work on the city-owned Grand Avenue boulevard triangle south of Car-Go Express, 1804 Highway Boulevard, Bredehoeft said.