Dog park a hit with pups

Oct 02, 2023

After two years of planning, fundraising and building, the Friends of the Choteau Dog Park celebrated the opening of the Choteau Community Dog Park on May 27. While the weather was gloomy, it did not put a damper on the spirits of the FCDP board members or dog owners throughout the community.

"It has been a joy to put it together," said Polly Cunningham, the FCDP board president. "The best part has been just the enthusiasm from so many people that were so excited to see the dog park."

The park is located near the Choteau City Park and Weatherbeater Arena on leased city-owned land where the former Choteau stockyards sat.

The park is split into two separate fenced areas, one for larger dogs and the other for smaller pups. Natural play obstacles, benches, sunshade areas and windbreaks are placed throughout the large, grassy park for dogs and owners to use.

Cunningham said her concept of designing the park was to get indigenous materials for dogs to play on, not to order things on websites that sell commercial plastic equipment.

"Since we live in the land of dirt, rocks and trees, why not just use them?" she said.

According to Cunningham, she became resourceful when finding the natural park equipment, which includes tree stumps, mounds of dirt and a boulder for the large dog section.

"Whenever a tree surgeon was in town to take down a big tree, I was hovering at the fringe saying, ‘Well if you want to dispose of that tree trunk, I got a place,’" she said. "They were thrilled, because they didn't have to cart it anymore.

"The boulder — that huge boulder — was awesome. That was in the alley behind John Henry's, and the city was really delighted to move it because it was kind of an obstruction. It was perfect for the dog park."

Cunningham also said that an area for owners to fill up water bowls would be built the week of June 4-10. It will feature faucets with fresh running water and a designated mulch pad area for water bowls.

"The water will be a seasonal thing," she said. "The whole idea of ‘BYOW’ [bring your own water] will be true, because — come wintertime — we will shut the water off since it freezes. There will be winter rules that will necessitate bringing your own water.

"However, as soon as we get our water spigot up, we will have those two mulch pads, side-by-side, with water bowls out [for dogs to drink from.]"

Tennis balls, ball launcher sticks and Frisbees provided by the FCDP are available to use. However, dog owners are asked to help maintain the park and its equipment by picking up the toys so they do not get ruined.

Chunk, a 6-year-old valley bulldog, shakes hands with Bryce Gramm as he waits patiently for his tennis ball.

"This is a co-op," she said. "It belongs to everyone, so if there's a problem, do something about it. If the tennis balls [or launcher sticks] are out and here comes the lawn mower, scamper out there and pick [them] up so they don't get mowed over. It relies on its users to be cooperative."

Lists of rules are posted at the front of both gates before entering the park. Some of the rules for park users include staying in the park with their dog, supervising their dogs at all times with a leash readily available, recognizing the legalities of using the park, filling in any holes their dog creates, ensuring dogs have their latest rabies shot and, above all else, picking up after their dogs.

"I’m hoping people will get use to picking up after their dogs," she said. "So far I have to say that our users have been grand."

Diseases, like worms, can be spread from dog droppings as well as lowering the quality of an area, like a dog park. Cunningham said prioritizing the need for owners to clean up after their dogs will help maintain the park as well as improving the habits of dog owners throughout town.

"We are hoping it will become a universal habit, and it will transmit to Main Street where [dog owners] will consider picking up [their dog's] poop, too, when they go on walks," she said. "We decided that was our main thrust was to pick up poop — that's why it's repeated so frequently in the rules. We are really trying to generate total support for cleaning up after pets."

The park is open for everyone and has seen frequent use throughout the short time it has been open. While the park is open all day, Cunningham expects certain times of the day will be more populated than others, mainly during the early morning, late afternoon and evening.

She expressed her gratitude to community members, the city council, the companies that built the park, the city Department of Public Works and the grants that made the dog park possible. She said their help with the project promoted a stronger community.

"There is nothing that promotes community quite like a dog park," she said.

More information about the park and the park's rules can be found at Choteaudogpark.org.