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AUGUSTA

Dog roaming site opens Saturday in Mill Park

A spot for spot

By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Dogs will soon be able to shed their leashes and romp around with their fellow canines in their very own fenced section of Edwards Mill Park.

The city's new dog park opens Saturday.

Fence posts are already set, marking the footprint toward the rear of the river side park off Water Street. Two areas will be fenced in: a 9,600-square-foot area for all size dogs; and a 4,900-square-foot area for petite pooches.

Building the park, Mayor Roger Katz noted, won't cost taxpayers anything. The Augusta Rotary Club is donating the approximately $9,000 to create the park and enclose it.

Barbara Nichols, president of the local Rotary Club, said club members have discussed the idea, at least informally, for years. She was sold on the idea after viewing people and dogs interacting in a dog park she visited.

"It came up as a community need, and a need we could help with," Nichols said. "I went and visited one and realized, this is a cool thing. You see people there visiting with each other and having conversations while all their dogs are off running around and doing different things."

Katz, who has two small "golden-doodle" dogs himself, said city officials had discussed the desire to create a dog park but were reluctant to spend city funds in tight budget times.

Katz estimates well over half of Augusta's families have dogs; many, more than one.

"There is nowhere else you can let your dogs run free in the city," Katz said. "If you're a dog owner, you understand that dogs ought to be able to run free."

Nichols noted the park will provide a place for people to socialize their dogs safely.

Rules, drafted by city staff who examined rules at other dog parks, will be posted at the park. Those rules include requirements people clean up their dog's waste. Free disposable bags and trash cans will be provided.

Aggressive dogs will be banned from the off-leash area.

"If dogs can't get along with their friends, they won't be allowed in," Katz said.

City crews will maintain the area, as they do the rest of Mill Park.

Katz said the Capital Riverfront Improvement District, which has control of the park, "enthusiastically" supports the idea.

"This is just another attraction for getting more people down to the riverfront," Katz said.

The park will open following an opening ceremony Saturday at 10 a.m.

There is space to expand the park if its popularity warrants it, Katz and Nichols said.

The park could be one of the first dog parks in the central Maine area.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com