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Recreation commission considers local dog park

It doesn’t take much sniffing around the website of the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission to realize the commission is big on variety.

There are programs for baseball, basketball, baton, self-defense, disc golf, skating, swimming, tennis, volleyball and zumba.

All of the commission’s programs so far, however, have been for participants of one species.

That could change soon, as the commission seems poised to take variety in a new direction, based on an idea that surfaced last week from Chairman Wayne Hippo.

Why not a dog park, Hippo wondered.

“In my travels, I see them everywhere,” Hippo told the board, after revealing he’d been talking about the idea for a while with CBRC Executive Director Mike Hofer. “We are sadly lacking.”

Blair County already has one no-leash dog park, and it’s been successful, according to Hippo.

But it’s in Martinsburg, 30 minutes away.

That makes it a little bit impractical for regular use by those living around Altoona, someone said. A dog park in Altoona, by contrast, could be “spectacular” for city-area residents, Hippo said.

A dog park is special because it allows owners to let their pets run free, for a countryside experience in the midst of urban civilization, according to meeting attendees.

The Martinsburg facility inspired the enthusiasm of one commentator on its Facebook page, who wrote in December: “We are fortunate to have this amazing resource in Blair County!”

“I would be interested in looking further at the idea,” said commission member Eric Cagle, expressing the group’s apparent consensus.

One possible location is an approximately 1.5-acre area of Garfield Park behind the softball field, Hofer said.

Putting a fenced dog park there wouldn’t require displacing any other facility, Hofer said.

It’s a good location, according to Hippo.

“It’s in the middle of everything, and it’s away from everything,” he said.

Cagle asked how people would handle fights between dogs.

Owners would step in and break them up, Hippo said.

Matt Lindsey, superintendent of parks, asked about owners who fail to clean up.

The parks are “self-policing,” Hippo said.

The commission would do well to bring on the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society as a partner, Hippo said.

A dog park could give that organization opportunities for increased membership and even income, he said.

“I’m asking Mike (Hofer) to explore it,” Hippo said. “I will help.”

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.

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