The city of Isanti is moving forward with plans to construct a dog park.
During the July 5 Isanti City Council meeting, the council approved a motion designating a location for a dog park and continuing to move the project forward. The location for the dog park is in an area east of the Isanti Indoor Arena on Isanti Parkway.
According to a staff memo by Katie Everett, community events and parks coordinator, residents have expressed interest in having a space where they can bring their dogs off leash for better exercise.
Everett explained staff has created a two-phase draft park concept for the space. The first phase would enclose almost 1 acre. The second phase would extend the southern edge of the fence south to the small creek, increasing the size of the park to approximately 2 acres. Currently at the location are storage buildings for public works and the police department that are reaching capacity. In the second phase, the existing buildings would be taken down and a new building would be constructed at public works.
Everett explained in the first phase the park concept includes a 4-foot black vinyl chain link fencing, a transition entrance area, dog waste stations and a bench. The second phase includes increasing parking, extending the fencing, removing the buildings, additional dog waste stations, dog agility equipment and seeding of the access road.
Isanti Mayor George Wimmer said the dog park concept will be not be constructed this year unless the city receives a grant. He said the dog park concept will have to be budgeted for in future city budgets.
“Each year we have people ask us to do this,” Wimmer said. “We now have a designated spot, so we can work toward that. It is a really nice area. With the trains going by it’s a little louder, but it’s a beautiful wooded area.”
During the meeting, the council also approved a resolution approving the addition of a grass volleyball court at Rum River Meadows park for a cost of $1,732.
“This will be putting back an amenity back into our park we haven’t had in a while,” Wimmer said.