Letter to the Editor: Supportive of dog park around detention basin area

To the Editor:

What Ms. Clarke suggested a couple weeks ago to do with the water retention area in northwest Waukon is a very good idea. We could use some outside recreation in that part of town.

Think about what Decorah would do with such an area opportunity, only this time do it first, but do it smart. It doesn’t need to be fancy or elaborate, just work with and around nature, such as small wildflower plots, prairie plants, savanna grass areas, maybe cattails where most moisture lies. But most important of all, milkweed plants for Monarch butterflies.

The possibilities are endless. In other words, it can be a work in progress. Girl and Boy Scout troops could get involved. A walking trail around the whole area with a few sitting benches and no steep inclines would be a real benefit and treat for older people.

Incorporated into all of this could be a dog park, it could be a canine heaven. It appears every other family in Waukon has at least two dogs. Rural people could use it also.

Let’s start a fund or drive to work toward making this endeavor a reality. I would donate to a bank or organization that is the first to establish such an effort to build a dog park and walking trail. It may prevent small dogs, such as a friend of mine’s “Honey Puppy,” from getting run over on the street as happened a year ago.

It would go along with other happenings in the county to just help Waukon and the surrounding area be a great place to live and recreate, and it would also be a balance to our beautiful park in the south part of town. Anything is better than weed spray and mowing grass just to mow grass. If you build it, the dogs will come.

Jim Magner
Waukon