Vandalia dog park is in the works

The Vandalia Park District has agreed to work with the local animal rescue on a project that will benefit local dog owners.

In a special meeting on Tuesday evening, the park board voted to designate the district park at the east end of Madison Street a dog park.
In doing so, the park board agreed to work with Second Chance Animal Rescue on the conversion of the park into a dog park.
That action comes several months after Second Chance volunteers approached park board member Steve Hawkins about the idea.
It was discussed by the park board at its regular meeting last Thursday afternoon, then finalized at the special meeting.
Dog parks are typically areas for dog to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners.
Park board member Brian Stout said on Tuesday evening that Second Chance volunteers agreed to raise funds to develop the dog park for such things as park equipment and fencing.
At the park board meeting last Thursday, trustees talked about creating a parking area, because of the lack of parking along Madison Street. One possibility is creating a parking area on the south end of the park.
In presenting the idea to the board, Hawkins said he supported the proposal offered by Second Chance.
“To me, it’s a win-win situation for everybody,” Hawkins said.
Also at Thursday’s regular meeting, Stout reported that he is continuing to work with a bond attorney on a bond issue for the swimming pool renovation project.
The board was scheduled to continue working on that facet of the project at Tuesday’s special meeting.
Stout also said that in addition to getting everything in order for this project, he believes that the park district needs to begin forming relationships that will benefit both the district and the community in the future.
“Now is the time to forge relationships with groups like the (Family) YMCA and (Fayette County Hospital),” Stout said.
The YMCA, he said, could offer the use of the pool as part of its membership, and the hospital could use the facilities for some of its programs.
Partnerships with entities such as those, Stout said, will be important to have when the district has to take on another pool project down the road.
“Because the next time, we will be replacing the pool,” he said.
Also at Thursday’s meeting:
• Parks Superintendent Kent Torbeck said that the district is still experiencing vandalism in restrooms in the parks.
The park board has been discussing ways to address such vandalism in recent months.
• The park board agreed to work with the Field of Dreams Committee in replacing lights in scoreboards at baseball diamonds.