DuPage forest preserve mulling dog park near Darien

DuPage County Forest Preserve commissioners might spend up to $40,000 to determine whether a preserve in the southeastern part of the county is the right spot for a proposed dog park.

The district is considering a proposal to construct an off-leash dog exercise area in Oldfield Oaks Forest Preserve near Darien.

But before commissioners can make a final decision on whether to pursue the project, they first need to know if a roughly 6-acre spot within Oldfield Oaks could be used.

To get that information, the district needs to complete several studies, including archaeological and topographic studies.

Andrea Hoyt, the district's manager of planning, said staff members are asking commissioners to approve spending up to $40,000 to pay for the studies. The board is expected to vote on the request next week.

If the various studies conclude the spot is viable, Hoyt said commissioners then can decide whether to fund the project.

The proposed site at Oldfield Oaks is a wide open parcel. It's yet to be determined what features the proposed dog park would have and how much the project would cost.

In addition, a permanent parking lot will need to be built to comply with Darien's building requirements.

The dog park is being considered because Commissioner Linda Painter says there's a need for one in her district, which includes all or parts of Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lemont, Naperville, Westmont, Willowbrook and Woodridge.

Off-leash dog areas are located at six forest preserves around DuPage. But they all are miles away from residents in the southeast part of the county, Painter said.