Rotary, North Elba looking to open dog park in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID | The Rotary Club of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba are working toward constructing a new dog park at the showgrounds. "Once it's complete, it's going to be a real boon for Lake Placid," said Chandler Ralph, president of the Lake Placid Rotary Foundation. "It's going to be great for not only community members, but tourists, as well; it's going to be a win-win for everybody." So far, a 100x150 parcel within the North Elba Showgrounds has been identified as the future home of the Lake Placid Rotary Bark Park. Town officials have already cleared out the site, leaving some trees to provide shading. Last week, North Elba officials approved how the responsibilities of the dog park would be divided between the town and the rotary. For instance, by signing this letter, the town would agree to provide the base materials, such as wood chips, and to routinely maintain the site, while the rotary club would agree to pay an estimated $30,000 for the original fencing and benches for park users. Once complete, the Lake Placid Rotary Bark Park will be split into two areas: one for small dogs and the other for large dogs. There could also potentially be a third area for special needs dogs. There will be a double-gate entrance to help prevent dogs from escaping when entering or leaving. Plans are in place to eventually incorporate posted rules, garbage cans, dog waste stations, benches, and a water source. The Rotary would like to eventually incorporate fun obstacles into the dog park. Town of North Elba Supervisor Richard Preston takes his dog, PJ, a female Yorkie mix, on a walk every morning. Before, Preston used to take her to the Olympic Speed Skating Oval to run around and play, but once the oval started prohibiting dogs on the property, that eventually led town officials to put up a makeshift dog park also in the park district. Sue Semegram, the wife of Rotary member Harris Semegram, attempted to visit the dog park with her canine companion, Penny. But her escaping from the fence was a fear. Penny, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, is currently in obedience training, and recall is one thing she's still working on. So, having her run around off-leash without the risk of escape is ideal. "And she just loves to play with other dogs," she shared. "She plays so nicely." Semegram decided to take her to the dog park in Saranac Lake. At the end of 2024, the Semegrams and Ralph met with the Town of North Elba to discuss the possibility of creating a dog park somewhere in Lake Placid. Currently, the North Elba Showgrounds is going through a comprehensive two-phase renovation. Phase One, completed last year with $2.1 million in investments from the Town of North Elba and the Lake Placid Horse Show Association, included arena improvements, new all-weather competition footing, and infrastructure upgrades. In June, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $6 million state investment to replace the Long Building, a central facility used for year-round event services. But the showgrounds itself isn't the only area being targeted for renovation. In fact, it is only one part of the town's master plan to revitalize the entire park district, a 40-acre property that also features several other town amenities, including several designated spaces for lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, pickleball, and more. While working on that plan, officials decided to add that designated land for the dog park, which is adjacent to the big parking area near the lacrosse field. The goal is to complete the Lake Placid Rotary Bark Park by late spring, early summer, as soon as the weather cooperates. In the meantime, the rotary is still accepting donations toward the dog park. To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check to LPNYRF at P.O. Box 854, Lake Placid, N.Y., 12946 with "Bark Park" in the memo line. For more information or to make a donation online, visit lpnyrf.org.

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Rotary, North Elba looking to open dog park in Lake Placid

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