FORTVILLE — Leaders in Fortville have set membership fees and rules for a dog park they hope to open this spring.
The dog park coming to Memorial Park on the town’s west side will span about 1.74 acres and take the place of an underused former Babe Ruth baseball diamond near the facility’s skate park.
Fortville Town Council on Monday, Jan. 20, voted unanimously in favor of a resolution outlining the membership application and policies for the dog park and an ordinance on first reading adding the dog park’s annual membership fees to the town’s fee schedule.
The fee is $40 per year for one dog and $5 a year for any of the membership holder’s additional dogs. Members will receive keys to enter the park. They do not have to be Fortville residents.
Fortville’s dog park will be similar in size to the Rover’s Run Bark Park at Beckenholdt Park in Greenfield. That facility, run by the city parks department, is fully fenced with an electronic gate entry. Patrons pay $40 to $50 a year for a membership depending on residency status.
The Memorial Park Dog Park application asks for information about the applicant and their dogs, including copies of vaccination records.
Heath Luther, Fortville parks director, said his goal is to have the park open by April 1 if the weather cooperates.
He said the park’s grass is in and that he wants its roots to take hold a little more.
The park will be split into areas for dogs weighing more than 25 pounds and dogs weighing less that 25 pounds. Dogs lighter than 25 pounds can go in the area for heavier dogs if their owner wishes, Luther said.
Luther wants to have a sidewalk leading to the dog park’s entry area and eventually sidewalks leading to pads in both sections of the park with pergolas and seating.
Fritz Fentz, a Fortville Town Council member, said he’s confident the park will be used and referred to the new homes coming to Ohio Street just north of Memorial Park.
"I think a lot of those people will use that park," he said.
The town council gave Luther the go-ahead to start working on the dog park last year.
Tonya Davis, who joined the council at the start of 2020, said she did not agree with the previous council’s decision to pursue a dog park but didn’t have a problem with any of the recently passed rules.
"It all looked really good to me," she said. "It’s pretty standard for most dog parks. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary."
Davis said she grew up with dogs but knows dogs that aren’t hers can’t always be trusted, which led to her concerns over the dog park.
At the same time, she continued, it will be good for those who don’t have a lot of space to let their dogs run.
"I’m sure it’ll get used," she said.
Davis also praised Luther’s work on the project.
"He’s worked really hard on that up there and it looks nice," she said. "He does a really good job with everything that he does. He’ll see it through, and I’m sure it will be a good thing."
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Memorial Park Dog Park fees and rules
- Membership keys are required to enter this park; keys may be purchased 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Fortville Municipal Building, 714 E. Broadway
- Membership rate: $40 one pet per year, additional pets $5 per pet per year
- Membership includes one key to facility; $10 charge for key replacement
- Owners may not have more than two pets per visit inside the Dog Park
- No non-member dogs are allowed in the Dog Park
- Dogs must have updated vaccinations — 5-way DHLPP, rabies, bordatella
- Participating dogs must have identification via collar tag and/or microchip
- Dogs must be at least four months of age to receive required shots, dogs under four months of age are not allowed in the dog park
- Dogs must receive heartworm and flea prevention treatment, be free of internal parasites and in good health
- Vicious, fierce and aggressive behaviors are prohibited
- Spaying or neutering is required to reduce aggressive behavior and unwanted interaction
- Everyone is expected to clean up after their dogs by using the waste receptacles provided; failure to do so could result in forfeiture of membership
- Children under 11 years of age are prohibited
- Children 12 to 17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult
- Each dog must be on a 6-foot leash (or smaller) until they are within the first entry gate and the gate is closed behind you
- No leashed dogs are allowed within Memorial Park Dog Park
- Excessive barking and/or digging is not allowed; failure to abide could result in forfeiture of membership
- Neither dog food nor food for human consumption is allowed within the fenced facility
- Glass containers are not allowed within the facility
- Only dogs are allowed in the park — no other animals
- Smoking/vaping is not allowed within Memorial Park Dog Park
- The agility equipment (when available) is for dog use only
- If needed, users will provide their own water for their dogs
- Any attempt to deceive through paperwork and/or shot records will result in forfeiture of use and refunds will not be given
Source: Town of Fortville
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