A Dog Park
As we take our baby steps… very carefully I might add, towards summer, it’s time to start thinking about a couple of items high on the list of resident priorities. Like… is there going to be a dog park? Or, what are the plans for Presque Isle? And, what’s going on at Tourist Park?
First, the dog park… aka the Bark Park. (Until a better name comes along, that’s what I’m calling it.) Quietly, but with dogged determination, a group of citizens is working with the city and the Board of Light and Power to develop a summer dog park.
The group, called the Marquette Dog Park Friends, is meeting regularly to address the need for an off-leash facility to complement Tourist Park, which will continue to serve as a winter site.
Though the group has just been formed, they’re already working with tentative plans, seen above, for a wooded park, with walkable paths, on BLP property near the Buck Buchanan Disc Golf course. It’s just down the road from Tourist Park on CR 550. It would accommodate, separately, both big and small dogs, and feature an open area for general play.
What Will it Take?
Having seen many wish-list proposals come and go, I’m initially suspect of the prospects for successful outcomes. But, having attended the Friends first official meeting, I’m optimistic about this one. For one thing, their Facebook page says they have 837 members. I’m not surprised. Leave your house and it won’t take long to see someone walking their dog… or dogs.
With a constituency that big, and the obvious need for a summer site, the Bark Park might actually happen. There’s only one thing that might hold it up. Can you guess what that is?
According to City Manager Karen Kovacs, “We have hundreds of projects on our Capital Improvement Plan list, and unfortunately, limited funding. A dog park is not ranked high enough to fund in the near future. We will certainly keep an eye out for grant opportunities.”
Knowing this, fundraising is at the top of the Friends’ to-do list, with an initial goal of $250,000. That sounds like a lot of money, but I probably don’t have to tell you… nothing is cheap these days. It boils down to this… if you want a dog park, you’re gonna have to pay for it.
The Marquette Dog Park Friends’ next meeting is scheduled for March 23rd at 6:30 at the Peter White Public Library. You’re more than welcome to join your fellow canine congregants and put the paws to the pavement to make the Bark Park happen.
(You’re starting to warm up to Bark Park, aren’t you.)
Presque Isle
The jewel in the crown of Marquette’s park system is sure to see as much or more traffic this summer as ever before. Now that jumping off Black Rocks is de rigueur for able-bodied visitors, nice days will undoubtedly see more cars than the isle can comfortably accommodate.
The new band shell should be ready at some point this summer. The main frame is done… and looks great, by the way, but surrounding landscaping will be given time to mature before crowds are welcomed in.
I heard the Rotary Club of Marquette is going to set their sights on the Bog Walk, and give it some needed TLC. Other than that, there are no plans for any other big projects at Presque Isle.
With the city’s commitment to keeping Presque Isle as natural as possible, “big projects” will understandably be few and far between. But the hope here is that city officials, and committees like the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, recognize the need for diligent attention to upkeep and maintenance. Keeping the park natural is one thing. Letting it go to seed would be unacceptable.
Tourist Park
Visitors to the city’s campground will be glad to see a new playground, opened last fall. At the same time, work was finished up on a reconfigured day use road project, making the park more accessible to non-campers.
Just like Presque Isle, Tourist Park is a destination, one which requires vigilant attention to upkeep, in order to remain attractive to both Marquette taxpayers as well as our out-of-town guests.
Good Ice
It doesn’t look like the Base Hospitality Group is going to be taking over Lakeview Arena any time soon, which means it’s still the city’s responsibility to keep it up and running. And up and running is the issue with the facility’s Zambonis.
When I last stopped by the place, one of the guys from the city’s Parks & Rec administrative team, with tool in hand, was doing some mechanical work on one of the failing Zambonis. I doubt vehicle maintenance is part of his job description, but sometimes you just do what you gotta do.
To save staff from soiling their khakis, Marquette Junior Hockey is in the midst of a fundraising drive to purchase a much-needed new Zamboni. If you’re interested in helping, you can send a check to them at Lakeview Arena.
If we’re really a “Hockeytown,” we should be able to keep our community ice in game shape. Your donation will help.
Westwood Mall
I told you I’d keep you updated on developments at the Westwood Mall… such as they are. Well, it’s still closed. Apparently they were to have a structural engineer in to inspect the place to see if some of the stores, those near the front and away from the caved-in roof, could reopen. No word on whether or not that happened, or if it did, what was determined.
So… there’s the update. Stayed tuned.