Plans announced for a Decorah Dog Park

(Left to right): Dog Park board members Jenna Casper and Sarah Schacherer, Decorah Walmart General Manager Mitch Link, Decorah Park-Rec Board Chair Rich Gaard and Dog Park board members Shirley Vermace and Marguerite Meade. (Not pictured, Dog Park committee members Sam and Maddie Castro, Ted Schacherer, Carson and Chauncy Eggland, Rachel Chill, Brittany Allen and Jayme Nelson.

Decorah Parks and Recreation officials and community members Wednesday announced plans to build a 2-acre dog park in the city.

Said dog park committee member Jenna Casper, "The goal is to create a controlled, chain-link fenced off-leash area where dogs are free to run and play in a safe environment, to help create a happy healthy community for canines and their people."

The proposed site will be located behind Wal-Mart in Decorah on a nearly 2-acre plot of land currently owned by the city.  The cost of completing the
project has been estimated to be around $30,000.  The Decorah Wal-Mart has given the project $2,500 in seed money through a WalMart Community Grant.

Wal-Mart has approved use of their parking lot for parking and an access point for the dog park, said dog park committee member Shirley Vermace. 

Dog Park Committee members include Jenna Casper, Shirley Vermace, Sam Castro, Maddie Castro, Ted and Sarah Schacherer, Carson and Chauncy Eggland, Brittany Allen, Jayme Nelson, Rachel Chill, and Marguerite Meade.

Charitable donations can be sent to Decorah Park and Recreation "DOG PARK," P.O. Box 513, Decorah, IA 52101.  All checks must be made out to: Decorah Park & Rec DOG PARK.

For more information, contact Decorah Park & Recreation Department at 563.382.4158.