The search for a site to accommodate a new dog Park is finally over! After a multi-year search for a location, the city is moving forward with the construction of a new community dog park at 501 S. Asti Road. The project site, located just south of the Train Depot on Asti Road, is owned by the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART). The City collaborated with SMART on a License Agreement that enables the City to use the SMART property for the new park. The proposed dog park is positioned on underutilized open space that will provide Cloverdale residents a safe place for their dogs to play off leash while accommodating freeway travelers looking for a place to stop with their canine companions.

Project Budget and Design

In February of 2023, the City Council approved a budget of $245,000 for the design and construction of a new dog park including an accessible entrance path. The proposed dog park is designed to be approximately 12,500 square feet (250 in length X 50 feet wide), which is comparable to neighboring cities’ parks, and is a generous space for our four-legged friends. In terms of amenities, the site will be totally enclosed with new fencing, and new water service will be extended to the site to provide fresh drinking water. The site will be graded, drainage installed, and dog friendly mulch will be spread across the site. A total of 30 trees are to be planted along the west side of the park. That, and in time, will provide lots of shade and a landscape buffer from the adjacent roadway and train track. Although not currently in the plans now, the installation of the restroom could occur in the future.

The city solicited bids for the construction of the project in August. On September 13th, the Council awarded a construction agreement to local contractor Andersen Excavating for grading the site, installation of water service and construction of the accessible entrance pathway. The first thing you’ll see is the construction of the ADA ramp that will extend from the existing parking lot at the SMART station to the entrance to the park. Once the path construction is complete, a 5-foot-high fence will be installed with a double gate to provide safe entrance to the park. Expect to see work commencing in early October of 2023, with an estimated completion date of late 2023.
Existing parking at the Train Depot will provide ample parking spaces while the newly constructed pathway will enable quick access to the newly constructed park entrance. We expect the new dog park to provide a much needed play area for our furry friends with the amenities to support an enjoyable experience for dog owners. In addition, we are optimistic that the park will be an attractive amenity that enlivens the Train Depot and brings new people to town who will spend time and patronize our businesses.

The construction of a dog park is the culmination of investments made by the City Council in park improvements including new Pickleball Courts at Furber Park, new basketball courts and bag toss (cornhole) at Second Street City Park, a new restroom and park benches at Plaza Park as well as new open space. The addition of new parks and facilities represents the Council commitment to support the health and wellness of our community.

Benefits of Dog Ownership

According to a recent article from The Trust for Public Land, “…the hottest new city park issue to hit America (is) the skyrocketing support for creating places to let dogs run free…”. Cloverdale has witnessed an increase in demand for park and exercise areas including off-leash dog parks. Increased dog ownership is a societal phenomenon that has further spurred Cloverdale’s Parks & Recreation Team to work with our many constituents to satisfy dog owners and non-dog owners in their desires and needs for parks and open space.