A dog park in Millsboro is now one step closer to reality and is expected to open by the end of the year:
Millsboro’s Mayor and Council started discussing dog park plans about a year ago, according to assistant town manager Jamie Burk.
“We initially started off with about an 11-acre parcel out on Route 24/Laurel Road," said Burk, "I had been tasked to have a parks designer come out and give us some ideas and some proposals for a park. And with that community park - one of the aspects - one of the features was going to be a dog park.”
But Burk explains some Council members were concerned about a dog park being part of a community park. A property off Route 20 was then considered, but failed to pan out because of issues regarding a park entrance permit.
Burk says the Mayor and Council recently settled on a 3.5-acre parcel, off Wilson Highway, right across from Town Hall.
“It’s close enough to the downtown that people can walk their dogs to the dog park. Anyone who wants to drive here can - for the time-being - park at Town Hall and walk across the street and utilize the park. And then down the road, we have room to expand,” said Burk.
Burk says the town is working with a contractor to get fencing installed, which when complete, will create separate sections for small and large dogs.
He notes the fencing is expected to cost just under $10,000. The town’s current budget earmarks $100,000 for the dog park that he hopes will allow for expansion to include parking, a water station for the dogs and a shaded area for owners.
