Lafreniere Park plans 4-acre dog park

From NOLA.com - Article

Few, if anyone, would argue that a dog disdains a good run. In tune with the rising trend to provide that, Lafreniere Park in Metairie will soon have a new fenced-in dog park to let the family pet off the leash.

The Parish Council set aside $300,000 last month, then asked for bids last week from companies willing to build the 4-acre compound on the north side of the park.

With dog parks at Bonnabel Boat Launch and City Park getting plenty of use, building one at Lafreniere seemed an excellent idea, park manager Barry McGuinness said.

“They seem to be very popular,” he said. “They seem to be what the community wants.”

The dog park will be enclosed alongside the Frisbee golf course, incorporating some of the rolling hills nearby, McGuinness said. A fence will separate the large dogs from smaller ones. Landscape architect Greg Cantrell is designing it to hold sidewalks, benches, gazebos and water fountains for humans and canines alike, McGuinness said.

Officials are hopeful bids on the construction could return by May, with the work taking about six months to complete, McGuinness said. “It’s going to be pretty basic,” he said.

Should the bids come in below the $300,000 budget, McGuinness said the park will use extra financing to enhance the dog park’s amenities. For instance, there could be enough money to build an obstacle course similar to the one at Bonnabel Boat Launch.

“We’re going to try to be fiscally responsible and get the best bang for our buck,” he said.