Plan Calls For Interim Urban Dog Park at Rochester’s Cook Park

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Park Board is being asked to create the city's first urban dog park.

The board earlier asked staff to look into the issue after hearing from community members about the need for a dog park in close vicinity to downtown Rochester. Lewis decided the most favorable sites were Cook and Kutzky Parks.

Based on input from the public it became clear that Cook Park was favored by the majority of people involved in the discussions but there is concern that it may not end up being the most favorable location in relation to some apartment buildings currently being built or in the planning process.

That has led Park Department staff to recommend constructing an interim dog park in the northeast quarter of Cook Park, which will provide easy access to trails and the sidewalk system serving the neighborhood. Staff plans to monitor usage of the urban dog park using visual observation and periodic pedestrian counters and if has good use the facility would become permanent.

The monitoring would continue for about two years, and if it does not seem to get good use, the dog park would be relocated to Kutzky Park. The Park Board is expected to vote on the proposal today.