Dog owners in Skagway have been discussing the need for a fenced-in dog park for years. This spring, the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee is taking the first steps toward making one a reality and they’re eyeing the old brush field at Seven Pastures south of Dedman Stage for the location. KHNS’ Mike Swasey talked with the chair of the Parks and Rec Committee Deb Potter about the concept.
Swasey – Deb Potter, thanks so much for joining us. Why don’t you tell us about your concept for a dog park in Skagway?
Potter – I am a big fan of dog parks, and I think that a dog park would be very valuable here. You know, there’s a lot of benefits to it. It provides social time for not just dogs, but humans as well, especially in the offseason, when the weather isn’t really conducive for being out and about. It helps seniors and people with mobility issues, it provides a space for them to get their dogs out and to be around other dogs and other people.
Swasey – So where in town, are you looking to put this dog park?
Potter – A really nice spot is out at Seven Pastures, that old brush field. It’s state land, and nothing else is kind of happening there anymore, and it’s just it’s a really kind of perfect space. I was there at the end of February. And the entire town was a giant mud puddle, including much of the Seven Pastures area. But that old brush pile spot, I got out and walked around, and was really pretty nice and dry.
Swasey – Yeah, there’s a big area there. And then, there’s also, I mean, all of that lands down toward the riverbed as well. I mean, that’s all elevated up above the edge of the river.
Potter – I like how you’re thinking.
Swasey – At what point in the Parks and Rec phase of this are we at, at this point? Is this just a discussion topic? Or Are y’all planning to move forward with it?
Potter – We are definitely in the early stages. The next step would be at the next Parks and Rec meeting, I believe I will have a resolution ready to get approved to bring to the assembly to officially pursue the development of a dog park.
That is something I believe we could take to the state and get permission to use that land. Without the state’s permission, it’s obviously a no-go. I’m optimistic that they will not have a problem with that.
I was telling this to my nine-year-old friend Emmett, and I asked him what he thought of putting a dog park out there. And he was pretty excited about it. But he told me, “You know, Deb, you only need a fence.” And I thought yeah, Emmett, really, it just starts with a fence and some poop bags. Down the road, who knows what it can blossom into?
Swasey – What do you say to the people who are worried that if we get a dog park in Skagway, then maybe the trails won’t be dog friendly anymore?
Potter – Yeah, sure. I see a dog park as working in a very complimentary kind of way. Along with our multiple off-leash dog-friendly trails. People with mobility issues can’t necessarily get their dogs out on many of our trails. That’s a really important factor for me.
Swasey – Well, Deb Potter, thanks so much for walking us through the dog park concept. I appreciate it.
Potter – Yeah, let’s go out there and fetch ourselves the dog park.
The next committee meeting isn’t scheduled yet, but they expect it to be in late April. A document was compiled by resident Wendy Anderson in 2019 that helps discuss the pros and cons of such a space.
