Community dog park proposed for Port of Hoodsport

Kirk Boxleitner | May 12, 20220

A proposed community dog park was put before the Port of Hoodsport for consideration on April 13.

Resident Bill Long, who moved to the area several years ago from University Place in Pierce County, is the founding member and president of SUN (Safe, Unleashed, Natural) Dogs of Pierce County, a nonprofit organization that developed and paid for an off-leash area at Chambers Bay starting in 2005. It operates in partnership with University Place and Pierce County.

The group raised more than $40,000 to fence and develop that park, and Long said he sees a similar need in Mason County.

Long touted the benefits of dog parks, not only to dogs and dog owners, but also to the overall community.

“Dog owners meet, share information about their pets, and make friendships that would not otherwise happen,” Long said. “Dogs are able to socialize off-leash, exercise and become more sociable as they become part of their own pack. When they go home, they’re much calmer, more relaxed and better members of their neighborhoods.”

Long is also part of a Lake Cushman-based nonprofit organization, started in 2019, that has the goal of developing an off-leash area in Hoodsport.

“Our members have raised $8,000, and have the experience, the drive and the desire to see this through,” Long said. “There are dog parks in Belfair, Olympia, even Shelton, but many of our residents require something closer so they don’t have to drive outside their area too far, especially during winter.”

One area the group has considered is on Port of Hoodsport property, directly across state Route 119 from the disc golf course, to the south of the gazebo.

“The disc golf warden is concerned about dog droppings,” Long said. “But we intend to do quite a bit of diligence in keeping the area clean.”

Port Commissioner Lori Kincannon said the dog park could benefit the community, but acknowledged some residents would prefer not to be so close to a community dog park.

Port Commissioner Cody Morris said he has taken his dog to the Chambers Bay dog park, and he described himself as “impressed.” He asked how such a park would be maintained.

Long cited donations from corporations and nonprofit members, although he stressed one wouldn’t need to be a member to use the park.

Long said the Pierce County dog park has already drawn tens of thousands in donations, but Morris expressed concerns about how many volunteers would be required to keep a dog park from becoming “a gnarly mud pit.” Fellow Port Commissioner Terry Brazil pointed out that the port, as a public entity handling taxpayer money, can’t donate money or facilities.

According to Long, the Pierce County dog park allows the county to retain the land for the dog park, while the nonprofit organization furnishes it with benches, fences and maintenance.

“We must spend $800 a year just for doggy bags in Pierce County, and we’d be doing the same thing here,” Long said, adding that his group would agree to fence, maintain and supply a dog park in similar fashion.

While Kincannon requested further information on how the costs and volunteer labor would work out, she agreed that the group’s work with Pierce County could possibly be emulated locally.