Superior Council Seeks New Location For Dog Park

SUPERIOR - Plans to move forward for a dog park in Superior took a twist Tuesday after the city council approved a spot they might not have funding for. The council voted that the best spot for their first and only dog park is at Bear Creek Park right where Superior's new animal shelter is under construction. While the council thinks Bear Creek Park is a great location for the dog park, there's a catch.  As of Tuesday evening's council, the city didn't have funding to build a park in that spot. The Superior Jaycees said they'd give the city $20,000 to build a dog park on Texas Avenue in the Billings Park neighborhood."This can be accomplished and make everybody happy,” said Superior resident Al Horvarth. “Why put it in a position where so many neighbors are adversely affected?" Community backlash and a 200-signature petition against the park in Billings Park caused the council to consider different spots. Because the council has decided to move forward with the park somewhere else, the Jaycees is not sure they want to be part of it. The Superior Jaycees said they’ll bring the new dog park proposal back to their board to see if they want to build a dog park in the council’s requested location. Mayor Bruce Hagen says he's supportive of the dog park going right next to the new shelter, but the Humane Society of Douglas County says while they'd like a dog park nearby, seeing it out their windows isn't ideal."We're concerned with the responsible pet owners bringing their pets that are vaccinated and healthy and everything else to that dog park so close to our shelter animals that are going through getting vaccinated," explained the Douglas County Humane Society president, Michelle Porter. Shelter officials say they have plans for the land surrounding the new shelter, and building a dog park so close would hinder future development. Currently, the only dog park in the Twin Ports is the Keene Creek dog park on Duluth's west end, and a location under construction at Observation Park.