Finance Committee - 04/21/2021 Page 7
Alderwoman Lu
Huh, OK. | didn’t realize we had to purchase land. So one other question | have is we are not sure this is
feasible so we are going to do a feasibility study, correct? But we’ve decided to buy the land regardless of the
results of the feasibility study? That’s my question, why would we do that?
Director Cummings
If | may Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Donchess
Yeah.
Director Cummings
Yes, thank you. So | think the point is a good one raised and essentially the question previously or the
statement previously made actually answers the question. | think most people are already under the
impression that that land is city owned and most people treat it and think of it and use it as a trailhead for the
entrance or the gateway to Mine Falls Park. Technically that is inaccurate and what this does is just kind of
correct that. So despite whether a dog park is actually achieved, which | hope it is, nonetheless you'll have a
gateway, an entrance to the Mine Falls Park entrance with this property that has been already traditionally
thought of or used culturally as such. So this is just really cleaning up something that | think the community
has already used and treated in such a way.
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you. And just a follow up.
Mayor Donchess
So there are two things; number one — as Tim just said, people do think of this as part of Mine Falls Park and it
is actually not owned by the City. Number two | think the name of the study, this title was arrived at before the
idea of really purchasing this parcel was arrived at. So | think those involved, Ms. Chizmas, Alderwoman Klee
would say that the likelihood that a dog park can be established here is a very high probability that might be an
understatement. But the feasibility had to do with looking at different places and how could it be done. So |
don’t think there’s much or any doubt that a dog park can be established here is that correct?
Ms. Chizmas
That’s correct. And one thing that this study is doing is in addition to looking at the land it will provide us with a
design for a dog park in this location that fits the land that it can work in. It will also provide us with an
operations and maintenance plan for operating the dog park, making sure that it is done environmentally
soundly because it is in a wet area so we want to make sure that the waste management is taken care of and
done responsibly. It will help us identify opportunities for grants and funding to make sure that we can do this
successfully. So the land is one thing but there’s a whole bunch of other components to the study that will help
us make sure that we can operate it.
Alderman Klee
And Mr. Mayor may | make one clarification, | Know ...
