Plans for dog park approved

Dogs will get to enjoy Hudson Family Park a little more in the near future.
The Portland Park Board approved $8,600 to erect a “bark park,” a 150-foot by 80-foot fenced area for dogs to roam off leashes.
The expenditure was one of several approved by the board Tuesday night as members green-lighted $47,191.62 in purchases.
Portland parks superintendent Jeff Harker proposed the dog park and suggested placing it in the area east of the sledding hill and south of the concession stand.
Harker said the dog pen would be ringed by a six-foot aluminized fence and would be about 150-by-80 feet.
Within that pen, Harker said that would be a gate leading into a 10-by-10 foot “safe” area where owners could remove their dog’s leash and then open an inner gate into the pen.
“The question is do we want a dog park?” Harker said. “I believe there’s some interest there.”
Board member Shauna Runkle asked if rules would be posted near the bark park and if there would be baggies and waste bins available so owners could clean up after their pets.
Harker said that rules would definitely be formulated and posted at the bark park entrance and that cleanup items would be available.
Harker also mentioned that the bark park could be outfitted with some benches for pet owners to sit on and perhaps some water lines that would spray water for dogs to run through. He said those decisions could be made later depending on usage.
Board president Neil Medler also noted that if residents don’t use the pen, it could be repurposed later as a kids play area.
“I wouldn’t come to you if we didn’t have the money,” Harker said of the project idea. The bark park would be paid out of capital outlay funds.
The board then approved the $8,600 for the bark park.
In other expenditures, the park board approved several maintenance projects for Portland Memorial Park.
Harker presented a quote of $4,370 from Franklin’s Electrical Service to repair lights at Jerry VanSkyock Memorial Softball Field. Harker said the wooden supports for the lights have warped — causing one of the lights to fall down.
The quote from Franklin’s included material and labor costs and Harker noted the company would not charge for use of a bucket truck to hang the lights.
“We’ve got to have lights,” Medler said.
The board approved a second request for the softball diamond to replace the outfield fence at a cost of $8,500.
“That’s for the whole outfield from left field to right field,” Harker said. “I know that fence was out there when I played in the ‘70s.”
The board also approved two projects for Runkle-Miller Field, where the Portland Rockets play home games.
Harker said the fences down first and third base line are in poor condition and are more than 25 years old. The cost to replace those with aluminized fence is $8,200.
“It’s a little more expensive, but it’s a little nice,” Harker said. “It won’t rust.”
The board also approved $13,200 to lay cement slab behind the backstop. Harker said the area currently holds water after it rains.
“I think it helps the people not walking through the mud and the water and gets the bleachers out of the water too,” Harker said.
The park board also decided to pay one fourth of the cost for a new “bat wing” mower that will be used to mow the parks.
Harker said the new mower, with a 20-foot cutting span, is needed to more quickly cut grass at Portland Municipal Airport, but that it will also be used to cut fields at the former XPLEX site on county road 100 North and can be used at the parks.Since the use will be split between several areas, Harker asked if the park board would pay for a quarter of the cost of the $17,286.50 quoted by Bryant Combine. The street department will also fund one quarter and the airport will cover the remaining half of the cost.
The board approved its share of $4,321.62 for the purchase.
Finally, Harker asked for permission to purchase a flag pole that will be installed near the concession stand at Hudson Family park. He said he had called Display Craft, Portland, for a price but had not heard back from them.
Harker, Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier and board members expressed a desire to have the pole up for the park’s grand opening ceremony on June 26.
Board member Larry Freyburgher wanted a ballpark figure for the cost and Harker estimated no more than $2,500. The board then granted permission for Harker to make that purchase once he hears back from Display Craft.
“I think it’s important we have a flag pole,” said board member Sharon Bubp.
In other business Tuesday, the park board:
•Received information about when finishing touches on Hudson Family Park would be completed. Board member Rod Ashman said he noticed a few minor things such as stones in the fields and erection of signs that needed to be resolved.
Harker said that a punch list of those final items is being worked on and that he is aware of the lingering issues.
•Heard a concern from Ashman that several trees in Hudson Family Park are dying or already dead. Freyburgher also noted that several of the trees appear to be dead. Harker said he will look into the issue and noted that those trees should still be under warranty and can be replaced.
•Heard a question from Ashman about the status of a gazebo that a local sorority had intended to erect in Hudson Family Park. Portland pool supervisor Rachel Arnold said she thinks the plans are completed and should be presented to the park board soon.
•Asked Harker about pond scum accumulating in the pond at Hudson Family Park. Ashman said he had concerns about the pond before it was built and noted that algae is sitting in the water.
Harker said chemicals have been applied to break up the algae and that aerators in the pond are helping the problem. Harker also said as a last resort city employees could begin raking the scum out of the water.
•Were asked by Freyburgher if something could be done to alleviate flooding at Haynes Park. Harker said that additional drainage work done in 2007 has greatly helped at that park, but that he wasn’t sure there was much more that could be done to aid the low-lying park. Harker said that he will speak with an excavating company to discuss possible solutions.
•Were informed by Hosier that the 2012 budgeting process is beginning.
•Fielded several questions from Sue Burk of Arts Place about use of Hudson Family Park for concert events. Board members told Burk that Arts Place can work directly with Harker to make arrangements for summer concerts.
•Heard an update from Arnold about the opening weekend at Portland Pool. Arnold said 139 people came for opening weekend and that regular hours for the pool begin Friday.[[In-content Ad]]