UM Dog Park Now in the Fencing Stage

The planned dog park at Mill Creek Park is in its final weeks of construction, said Pat Stasio, Upper Moreland Township’s Parks and Recreation director.

Speaking at this week’s Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, Stasio said the first in the final steps of the creation of the dog park would be to install perimeter fencing.

, some fencing will be set up to designate specific areas for big and little dogs, within the .89 acres of the dog park.

However, additional fencing will also be needed to separate the dog park from the Turnpike side of the park.

For this side of fencing, Stasio has suggested the purchase of 530-feet of split-rail fence with wire backing. This particular stretch of fence will stand 5-feet high, and will further serve as a barrier to the Turnpike fence.

Stasio said that split rail fencing takes into consideration water flow. Construction of this fence would be conducted by department staff, and would help keep the projected overall cost of the park under its $10,000 budget.

During the meeting, he approximated that the project may cost up to $8,500.

The other sections of the dog park, including the entrance gates and vehicle access gates, will require contractors to install. Stasio asked the commissioners to purchase approximately 620 feet of galvanized steel, standing at 5 feet, for the remainder of fencing.

Nick Scull, president of the Friends of Boileau, spoke from the audience, offering “a big chunk of fence” that surrounds the historic barn to the dog park, explaining that it is not needed.

According to Stasio, department staff have now completely cleared the way for fence installation and other construction. He estimates a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the dog park may occur by late summer or early fall.