West Jordan dog park finds a home

West Jordan has found a home for its future off-leash dog park, and dog lovers say they're pleased with the location. It's a wish come true for some who have invested countless hours generating support for the local park.

Council members designated the Ron Wood Recreation Complex at 5982 W. New Bingham Highway as the site for the new dog park last week. The city appropriated $25,000 from the council contingency fund with an agreement to match each dollar the community raised up to $50,000, said Rob Bennett, a city councilman.

Tony and Liz McGuire have been the dog park's main advocates, proposing the idea to the City Council and rallying support with their Web site: www.westjordandogpark.com.

The Web site is a central location where those who are interested in helping the effort can organize their volunteer efforts, Tony McGuire said. Visitors to the site can also make suggestions as to how to make the West Jordan dog park a success and avoid problems encountered by other dog parks.

"Once you realize how much your dog loves going out to a park like that, it's hard not to take them, and it's hard not to want to help provide one for everyone else," Liz McGuire said.

"I think these types of facilities are a great way for people to socialize their animals," Bennett said. "It's minimal cost for a lot of benefit."

The next step will be designing the park and organizing a committee to decide what features the park should include, he said. But, the city doesn't want to begin construction until all of the funds have been raised.

"Judging from the popularity this seems to have in the community, it probably will not take too much time," Bennett said.

McGuire said he thinks dog owners and non-dog owners alike will be pleased with the park's location.

The city owns enough land out there for a good-sized park and sufficient parking, he said. And because the land hasn't been used, nothing will have to be torn down to build the park.

In addition, the park, which will share the complex with a baseball field, currently has only one other neighbor — the city's animal control center. Building in an industrial area rather than a residential area minimizes, if not entirely eliminates, conflicts that could occur with neighbors, McGuire said.

Dwayne Pryor, the animal control center's supervisor said he anticipates the dog park becoming an arm of the animal control center.