Dog lovers are pumped that there could be a new off-leash park coming this summer to Kent’s East Hill.
Kent city officials are working with residents in an effort to open a canine-friendly park on an undeveloped 3-acre site between Morrill Meadows Park and East Hill Park along Southeast 248th Street. The city-owned site sits just east of 104th Avenue Southeast.
“I think it’s fabulous,” East Hill resident Debbie Herron said of the proposed interim off-leash park. “For people who don’t have space, this will give them an area to go. It will allow more people to own dogs.”
Herron is one of several committee members who volunteered to help the city develop an off-leash park. She brought her two dogs Copper, a vizsla, and Fritz, a half-husky and half-dachshund, to check out the proposed park Wednesday along with a few other committee members and their dogs.
“It’s a social event for people and dogs,” Herron said.
Brian Levenhagen, a city parks project manager who will oversee development of the site, said many residents have asked for an off-leash dog park.
“It’s one of the most consistent needs we hear about,” Levenhagen said.
But with recent cuts to the city budget, the city needs volunteers to do the work, raise the funds to pull off the project and to maintain the park.
“We need to get rid of invasive plants and the overgrown areas,” Levenhagen said of the first steps this spring. “Then we need to put fencing up and put in water, garbage cans and doggie-bag dispensers.”
One day, city park planners would like to build a regional off-leash park on the East Hill similar to Grandview Park in SeaTac that sits on the West Hill above the Kent Valley. With limited capital funding available, however, the development of a large off-leash park could be years away.
But temporary doggie parks could be set up at other city parks.
“We can develop interim off-leash parks that use existing parks that are not being used to their full potential,” Levenhagen said. “If this project is successful, we can do it again in other undeveloped park areas.”
The privately owned Reber Ranch on the East Hill features fenced, off-leash areas. Otherwise, dog owners who want to give their animals a chance to run free have few options within the city.
Although the exact costs of the off-leash park remain to be determined, Herron believes the group can raise enough funds and find volunteers to finish the project.
“Absolutely,” Herron said. “A lot of people want to help out. They have dogs and know it helps to have a healthier dog (if it can run free). It’s tough for the city to put the resources there, but we hope to get businesses that sell pet products or pet food to help contribute.”
About 30 people have stepped up to help since discussions began last summer for an off-leash park, Levenhagen said. More than 100 people signed up to be on a city e-mail list about the project.
“We could add benches, trails and a small-dog area, but many of those decisions will be up to the user-group to make,” Levenhagen said.
The specific plans for the off-leash park still need to be drawn up and submitted for city permits and approval.
But city officials are impressed with how many people want to help.
“We’re optimistic,” Levenhagen said about the chances of the project to be completed. “We have a good group of volunteers.”
The first large-scale work party at Morrill Meadows Park is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon March 27. Volunteers will help clear invasive plants and overgrown plants.
For more information or to join the planning committee, work party or to donate money, call Levenhagen at 253-856-5116 or e-mail him at bjlevenhagen@ci.kent.wa.us.
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