It would be very cool if Miles City had a dog park where responsible dog owners could take their dogs for exercise. I know there's Fort Keogh and some other public lands nearby that allow dogs but some dogs will just run off if you don't have them on a leash. There's just no safe place in Miles City for dogs to be off-leash. The fairgrounds allow owners to exercise pets on the premises, but at the risk injuries from broken glass and metal left behind from fairground events. There is no space in Miles City that allows for both pets and owners to fully enjoy the outdoors without fear of the animal being ran over, lost, or ticketed by police for violation of leash laws.
That being said, a small group of us are getting together to talk about how we could go about getting a dog park in Miles City and we thought it would be a good idea to hear from the rest of Miles City. What do you think, do we need a place in Miles City (fenced in preferably) were responsible owners and their dogs are allowed to be off leash? Any ideas for what would make a good dog park? Possible locations? Etc?

there is a park that nobody uses over on roosevelt I think it would make a great dog park it out of the way from traffic and its huge!!!! I definately think we need a dog park!!!!

yah, I couldn't agree more. I have 2 dogs that are both bolters off leash. They love to run and where I used to live , we had a great, community run, dog park. It was maintained by the folks who used it. Everyone just took care of there own dogs messes by bringing baggies, pooper scoopers and there were cans there to deposit your droppings. Then park users would take the cans to the dump once a week. We had a signup board onsite to volunteer for this. It was a great place for dogs to get exercise and for people to meet. It was about 1 acre in size and chain link fenced. I know I always have plenty of extra baggies. I wish we could compost the droppings, but I think dog droppings are too hot for fertlizer. There was also a few obstacles for dogs to have fun with and they could get all there digging frustrations out. I used to go there and bury bones for my dogs to dig up and they quit digging in my yard. This is just a great idea.

yea a good dog park would help that way everyone would stop bringing them down to the koa thinking its a poop and not pickup place

its funny your talking about that cuz i was thinking about it once, there's old stanley field at the pumping plant that might also work, but the downside being you couldn't walk youd have to drive. anyway i'm all for a doogy park..got a little jack russel and she loves to run like crazy.Glad someone posted something about it

Good idea in general. But like other things there will be a problem. I see others walking their dogs down the dike all the time. I see them running way far infrount of the owner and nothing being done when others come. I have a Rottie, and God forbid soemone sees him coming. Leash in all. I do keep him on one for HIS safety. But thye see him coming and life will end for them. People will get their dog and try to run off. Like mine will kill them. So please with your idea, dont just hink of the "little safe" dogs. Dog dont need discrimination, just like people dont!

This is all very good input and great ideas Keep them coming, I am very interested in what the community thinks.

I haven't been to Roosevelt Park yet, but will check it out soon. I know there's probably dozens of really good places for a dog park. It's kinda a shame that there already isn't one.

I think a dog park would be wonderful. I was just thinking of this the other day, kinda ironic. Anyway it is important for dogs to socialize and learn to be appropriate with their kind. My golden retriever loves other dogs and this would be a good way for him to get some play time in and burn some energy. I would definetely utilize it often. It would have to be fenced and there would need to be garbages and sack dispensers for the poop. I LIKE IT!

Is Roosevelt Park the one over by Rail Car? Is so, there are thorns all over. We would really need a place where the ground is free of those horrible things.

Many people already use area between Friendship Villa and HRH. There's a huge sunken area on the south side of Friendship Villa that would be perfect, except of course it isn't fenced.
Judging by the amount of doggie-doo presently lining the Health walk around HRH and Friendship Villa ~ despite dog clean-up stations having been thoughtfully and strategically placed ~ I would venture predict the park would be a poop ridden disaster..

In Bozeman, the city hired "The Poop Guy". He was a ski bum that started his own business picking up dog poop. You could hire him for a spring cleaning, or to come weekly, and the city hired him to clean the parks... Business venture for someone????????

Who would take care of the park BTW? Maintenance...watering...poop...and pay for it? Would this be a community funded project, or will you be seeking help from the City of Miles City?

Great idea! I know of several dog parks in other towns. It really helps socialize dogs so they learn how to be around dogs and people other than their owners. I like the field by the Pumping House because it is partially fenced already. Any more location suggestions would be great.

We have a wonderful dog park in Great Falls. There are separate sections for big and little dogs. There is an agility space in the big dog park, and both sections are well used. This was a public - private partnership between the City of Great Falls and the Great Falls Animal Foundation, with the Foundation doing the fund raising and the city maintaining the park. It is a wonderful amenity.

There was some concern about kennel cough at first, but there have been no incidents of illness at all. I encourage you to pursue this idea. It is a lot of work, but what a boon to the fourlegged community. My dogs love it!

I'd like to see a doggie day care/dog park/dog boarding facility. Of course, I am personally too lazy to start one I still think there's a huge calling for it, and you could start out as small as you could afford..

Geeze, there is a lot of great ideas and things to think about here. I agree that it needs to in town to some extend (at least within walking distance). I was thinking someplace like Roosevelt Park, the area between Friendship Villa and HRH, or even Riverside park. I know the south end never seems to be utilized. I'm thinking I will talk to some city admin folks and see if we might be able to work something out with getting some space in an existing park.

Perhaps creating a non-profit and raising the funds for the materials and getting a volunteer workforce to put it up one weekend? A friend and I have run crunched some numbers and to put a chain-link fence around about 1/4 acre space is about $2000 (materials only).

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc?

A couple more ideas ~ how about part of the area by the Pine Hills school, close to where they're planning on the swimming pool?

Another perfect spot, (where I often take my dog for Frisbee sessions) would be on the VA complex between the police station and the old Emergency entrance. If you could find out where the demolition crew that took out the old Holy Rosary got their temporary chain link fence, so hole wouldn't have to be made. I don't know who one would talk to about leasing or getting permission to use it. Haynes Enterprises has been maintaining the grounds, perhaps they'd have ideas? That would be a good spot as the grass is established, and already has an underground sprinkler system.

Somebody gets a doggy daycare going let me know. I can't find an apartment so living in a camper with 2 large dogs. Was going to Strawberry Hill after work but lately to much human feces in the middle of the road and scary to walk while people are shooting god knows where. Dogs are being good but it's sure tough on them and on me not to have a safe place to let them go play.