Aurora park is for the dogs

Tuesday could very well be a dog's day in Aurora as aldermen are likely to approve a new $63,000 dog park on the city's east side.

The city approved the park as part of an $800,000 development plan of the west end of Phillips Park in late 2006 and received an Open Space Lands Acquisition Development grant that promises to match 50 percent of the overall project.

Despite that, some aldermen would like to scale the dog park back significantly, saying $63,000 for a dog park may not be the best expense when the city is about a week away from presenting a promised balanced budget.

"You know I get the dog park and it works extremely well on the west side. It's well used and it's very popular and everything but it's basically grass and fencing," said Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence. "Here we have concrete and all kinds of other things. I mean it's a dog park and $62,000 for a dog park seems like a lot of money, especially at this time."

Assistant Director of Neighborhood Standards Mark Anderson said the highest bid for the project came in at about $95,000 and that about $106,000 was budgeted for the park.

Ninth Ward Alderman Leroy Keith said he also checked with the state about canceling the dog park project but was told doing so may void the entire $400,000 grant.

"If we do not fulfill our obligation, we stand to not get any of our money back," he said. "We're into this project for about $430,000 right now and when it's done we'll be in it for $400,000 and we'll have all those amenities at the park."

Third Ward Alderwoman Stephanie Kifowit defended the park, saying it's exactly what the east side needs in Phillips Park.

"Where as the west side dog park is just fence and grass, this dog park was designed to compliment Phillips Park and it has two different areas," she said. "It has an area that's grass for the dogs to run and it also has an area for agility with equipment and things for the dogs to go over, under and get more exercise."

Aldermen asked for a brief presentation of the park's amenities at next week's city council meeting before approving the park.