Park dist. may fetch land for dog park
By Matthew Piechalak
The Oak Lawn Park District has revived its plans to build a dog park and may be close to securing a site near Oak Lawn High School
Park district officials have been in contact with Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 about leasing school district-owned property near the northeast corner of 93rd Street and Kilbourn Avenue. The location, adjacent to railroad tracks about one block north of Advocate Christ Medical Center, would be a good location, according to park district officials.
The park district presented the plan to the District 229 board of education at a meeting earlier this month, School District 229 Superintendent James Briscoe said in a phone interview. Briscoe declined to comment on the likelihood of a deal because the school board plans to discuss the matter in closed session, he said.
The park district hopes to speak with the school district after graduation about the possibility of establishing a lease agreement.
"Hopefully we can get some type of agreement worked out in the next month," Park Board Commissioner Mary Margaret Wallace said.
The park district has allocated $30,000 in its capital improvements fund for the creation of a park for dogs and their owners. Wallace describes the plans as "pretty simplistic" and "in-line" with other dog parks complete with a double-gated entry, closed garbage bins and benches with kiosks. The park district would be responsible for maintaining the park and would assume all costs.
Oak Lawn and Hometown residents who wish to use the park would be charged a $40 annual fee, while non-residents would pay $100.
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Tags: dog, fetch