Partnerships with local businesses, community groups and volunteers are helping to build the City of Twin Falls’ first dog park. Once completed, Baxter’s Park will provide an area where dogs and their owners can enjoy time together with other pet owners.
In 2013, the Twin Falls Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Magic Valley K9 Social Club began construction on Baxter’s Park at the northeast corner of Blake Street North and Shoup Avenue West. Since that time, several volunteers and the assistance of other community groups have been converting an empty lot into manicured recreation area.
The Twin Falls Canal Company installed a head gate on a coulee at the north end of the dog park, which will allow the irrigation system to use pressurized irrigation that will begin watering the park by the Spring of 2014. Fencing is almost completed, with the help of volunteer efforts from County Commissioner Leon Mills, Lane Taylor of Taylor Made Fence Co., and members of the Magic Valley K9 Social Club. Fifteen trees were also transplanted in the dog park. Volunteer efforts have saved approximately $10,000 in labor costs.
To date, only funds from the Twin Falls Community Foundation, which were raised by the K9 Social Club, have been used in the creation of the park. The City has $105,000 in the current budget for the dog park that will help cover expenses such as the construction of a small restroom, drinking fountains and completion of the pressurized irrigation station.
The City will also use funds to purchase crushed granite to create a walking path along the fence lines and grass seed for the park area. After the City connects water to the irrigation system, City workers will begin hydro-seed the park which is slated to open in June 2014.