Dogs may get own area at Fuji Park

Dogs have always been allowed in Fuji Park at the south end of Carson City, but that doesn't mean they're always welcome.

"Pretty much every weekend Fuji Park is rented out for different events where dogs are either not allowed or have to be on leashes," explained Ilona Strull, chairwoman for the Parks 4 Paws advocacy group.

Her group is working with the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission to fence off a portion of the park for dogs and their owners.

"I think it will alleviate a lot of the conflicts we have right now with regular parks users and users who are dog owners," said Scott Fahrenbruch, director of operations for the parks commission. "You could have picnickers and kids playing and they don't always want the dogs around. It's a national trend to build dog facilities within a regular park."

Commissioners discussed the plan for a fee-based park at their Tuesday evening meeting. The amount of the fee has not been determined, but funds would be used for maintenance, Fahrenbruch said. The dog park would be about 1.5 acres in the undeveloped west end of Fuji. One acre would be for large dogs and a half-acre dedicated to smaller breeds.

It would include a double-gated entrance (to prevent escapes), water hydrants, benches and cleanup stations.

Strull said her committee is working to create a similar facility at JohnD Winters Centennial Park at the east end of town and trying to find another central location as well.

She said visitors often travel from Douglas County and from as far south as Bishop to shop at nearby Costco and let their dogs play at Fuji Park.

That will continue, she said.

"When they know there's a park, they'll stop and exercise their dogs," she said. "We have no desire to exclude people from other counties. We'd love to invite anyone to use the park."

The park will cost about $17,000 to construct, and, Strull said, Parks 4 Paws has raised about two-thirds of that. She hopes to raise the remainder of the funds at the Bark, Wine and Dine fundraiser hosted by Mayor Bob Crowell on May 1.

It will feature food, drinks, live music and a silent auction.

Construction on the park may begin as soon as October.