Residents endorse plan for Buffalo Grove dog park

About 40 residents who spoke up at a Buffalo Grove Park District meeting Monday night overwhelming supported a dog park in town.

The dog owners said they had been waiting many years for a facility in the village, with first suggestions popping up in 2001. They offered up ideas for improving the plan.

The park is proposed on ComEd's right of way to the south of the train station commuter parking lot.

Mike Rylko, park district executive director, said the board originally looked at using Lake County Forest Preserve District land, but that idea fell through.

Barb Novak said she takes a 25-mile round trip to Wauconda to go to a dog park there.

"I'd appreciate having a park we can walk to," she said.

The board's plan for the dog park shows two circular limestone paths for larger dogs and a small dog area with a fence splitting up those two paths on the two-acre park. The facility would also include an agility area, four shelters, drinking fountains and benches.

Those who want to go to the fenced-in park would need permits to park in the commuter lot.

Residents with dogs already have to get licenses from the village, and the board would require an additional permit to be allowed in the dog park.

Those who spoke up at the meeting suggested having a hose area to wash off dogs that get muddy and multiple entrances to prevent bottlenecks.

A resident near the park said she did have concerns about people parking on Carman Avenue and going through backyards to get to the dog park instead of going around to the commuter lot.

Board members said they will take suggestions into consideration. Officials also will discuss whether to offer bags for dog waste at the park or have users bring their own.

"This is the most supportive group we've spoken to in 20 years," board President Larry Reiner said. "We're thrilled that you are behind this project."

The board will vote on the dog park at a future meeting after tinkering with the plan. ComEd has leased the land to the village, which is working on an agreement with the park district to share the land.

The board will be looking at options to pay for the dog park, including grants and corporate sponsors who would want naming rights.