Oswego trustees as a committee of the whole Tuesday evening will discuss the feasibility of relocating the dog park in the village due to declining use and revenue.
Trustees in 2021 expressed support for the creation of a dog park in the village as a way for families to have a “spot for recreation” with their pets. Concept plans were prepared for construction of a dog park at the northeast corner of Plank Drive and Theodore Drive on 1.5 acres near the Public Works facility on the village’s southeast side.
It cost the village $110,000 to build the Happy Tails Dog Park, which included fencing, a fountain, shade sail and sidewalks, village officials said.
The dog park opened in 2023 and was initially well-received, officials said. However, an analysis shows there is declining use of the facility, according to officials.
“Since that time, participation has gradually declined,” Oswego Management Analyst Alejandro Hardaway said in a report to trustees.
The village eliminated the annual dog park fee at the start of the current fiscal year due to its anticipated closure because of the eventual expansion of the village’s nearby Public Works facility, he said.
“There are currently 133 active card holders, a decline in the peak total number of unique users since the dog park’s inception of 451,” he said.
Revenues from the park dropped from $11,238 in 2023 to $7,194 in 2024, officials said.
Operational expenses are minimal, totaling about $3,200 per year in Public Works staff time and materials, according to officials. Additional facility maintenance costs are between $500 to $700 annually.
The 2025 Oswego Community Survey shows only 5% of respondents report visiting the dog park, with 95% of respondents saying they do not use the site, Hardaway said in a report to trustees.
“These findings reflect that while the dog park is recognized by a majority of the community, actual utilization remains low,” Hardaway said.
Village staff has suggested relocating the dog park if trustees are interested in keeping it open. Possible sites include an area near Venue 1012, a 2-acre park east of the Oswego Police Department and a 4-acre area at the Hunt Club water tower property.
The Oswegoland Park District was approached about taking ownership of the village’s roughly $18,225 in equipment to open its own dog park, but the offer was declined, village officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.