The physical features of the Lake Panorama dog park are nearly complete, including the fencing, gates and entrance. The ground within the park has been seeded and fertilized. Now rain is needed for the grass seed to germinate and establish a solid turfgrass base before winter.
Bryce Arganbright, Arganbright Construction of Panora, is the contractor handling the fencing, gates and covered entrance.
The park is located on the east side of Lake Panorama, at the corner of Sage Trail and RV Road. A 6’ tall chain link fence 400’ long and 150’ wide surrounds the park. There are two sections, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. A single entrance will be protected by a keyless lock. Once inside this gate, users can choose a gate to either the large dog or small dog areas.
Crushed rock has been used to create a 4-foot-wide walking path along the inside of the fence, and extends another one-foot under and outside the fence to provide a weed barrier and keep dogs from digging.
The Lake Panorama Association has provided some in-kind contributions to the park. LPA staff used a skid loader with a soil conditioning attachment to prepare the ground for grass seed. The LPA also will install a driveway and gravel parking lot adjacent to the park to the east.
The LPA maintenance staff trenched a water line from the golf course to the main entrance of the dog park, which will supply two water fountains for dogs, one in each section of the park.
Because the LPA will be providing ongoing maintenance once the park is complete, the association is donating two picnic tables, one for each section. These will be the same types of tables used at the lake’s three beaches, which can be moved by the mower to different locations as needed.
Two sugar maple trees, donated by the Isom Tree Farm, will be planted in December, with one in the center of each of the two sections.
Amenities inside the park fence yet to be added are four stations where bags for dog waste will be available, and a waste receptacle near the entrance gate. Signs will be posted for responsible use.
The facility will be open to LPA members and their guests. Once the park is ready to open, members will need to contact the LPA office to receive the key code. Opening of the park is expected for spring/summer 2022, and will depend on how quickly the turfgrass gets established and all amenities are in place.
At the time of the July 30 Beach Ball, private donations for the dog park stood at $45,000. The Friends board voted to provide another $5,000 from the Beach Ball proceeds to reach the $50,000 goal.
A sign recognizing donors of $500 or more will be posted at the dog park. Donations continue to be accepted to help with final construction expenses, plus future needs such as turfgrass fertilizer, weed control and dog waste bags.