Dog park opening date unsure

Almost two weeks after the grand opening of Lexi’s Puppy Patch, dog park organizers and Creston community members are still waiting to use the park.

Jeremy Rounds, father of the late Lexi Rounds for which the dog park is named after, met with Creston Parks and Recreation board Tuesday to iron out a few final details surrounding the opening of the park. For the board members, having grass was the priority.

“Our agreement at the beginning was that we would mow it three times before we opened it,” board member John Kawa said. “That’s what we still have to do, otherwise we’re not going to get any grass. If you don’t let it grow, you’ll just have a mud hole. That’s all you’ll ever have, a mud hole. This would be the time to get it.”

The board hopes that the next few weeks’ good weather will help the grass grow.

“There’s a lot more green this week than there was last week,” Creston Parks and Recreation Director Mark Huff said. “We haven’t really had grass-growing weather until this week. Nice rains and warm weather.”

The board couldn’t put an exact date on the opening of Lexi’s Puppy Patch, stating that they’d simply have to play it by ear.

Aside from the grass, Rounds shared the dog park still needs to add a hose bib and water meter to the water system and need to install light posts. Rounds also told the board he would like their advice when it comes to picking out and placing new agility equipment.

“I want your opinion on what that might look like, because obviously you’d have to move the mower around it and that kind of thing,” Rounds said. “Like everything else, we’re going to fundraise for it, and it’s just a matter of placing it so it’s not a huge obstacle to mow around. That’s kind of where we are. We’ve got everything else basically done until the grass grows.”

In other meeting news...

Cheyenne Tuttle met with the board to finalize details on her upcoming event, Hidden Gems Vendor Show. This will take place at McKinley Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 21.

Shaun Kelley, treasurer of the Rainbow Park Restoration Committee, requested approval from the board for the placement of a drinking fountain in Rainbow Park, as well as a possible Flag Day celebration and permission to maintain the band shells. The board plan to have a decision regarding the band shells and Flag Day at their next meeting on May 23.