by Kelly Smith, June 30, 2005

Who let the dogs out?
Local park awarded for catering to canines

Poop on the Park: After being cooped up all day, Mocha, a 4-year-old German shorthair pointer, finally was free to romp. She soaked up the sunshine and with her tail wagging she seemed to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.

As Mocha ran freely on the woodchip-covered paths and wrestled with other dogs, Sally Gill walked behind her and chatted with the other dog owners who frequently visit Burnsville’s Alimagnet Dog Park off County Road 11 north of County Road 42.

"It’s my first stop after work," said Gill of Apple Valley.

She usually walks with Mocha every day for an hour around the seven acres of woods and fields that make up the city’s only enclosed park open for unleashed dogs. "It’s very highly used," Gill said. "The city could definitely use another nice sized [dog] park.

"It’s beautiful here," she said. "Here we can both relax and have fun. And, I know she’s safe."

Many dog owners agree.

Alimagnet is a popular place for area residents to take their dogs out without a leash. City officials estimate the park has about 44,000 visits yearly.

Recently the park received national recognition. Alimagnet won a $10,000 grant from Dog Fancy magazine and Novartis, a company in part dedicated to animal health. Dog Fancy ranked Alimagnet the third best dog park in the nation. The park’s patrons and the city celebrated June 25.

The national acclaim has increased the already large numbers of visitors to Alimagnet, attracting many first-time guests. For these area residents, many of whom live in townhouses or apartment complexes that lack a backyard, Alimagnet Dog Park is a nearby solution to the frustrating problem of finding a place to take out the dog. Other dog parks in Dakota County are Schwartz Pond in Rosemount or the Off Leash Dog Area in Coates.

Karla Duren, who lives in a townhouse in Apple Valley, heard about Alimagnet and brought her 13-year-old yellow lab, Tia, to the park for the first time last week. And, she was pleased with what she found.

"It’s a natural setting rather than a city street," Duren said as Tia went into a pond to retrieve a stick. "We’re going to have to be coming back here."

She was also surprised by the news that this modest suburban park, tucked in between softball fields and soccer fields, has gained national attention.

She wasn’t the only one.

"Shock, absolute shock," said Marcea Dowdy. Dowdy is the president of the park’s volunteer organization, People of Alimagnet Caring for K9s (PACK).

The non-profit group is comprised of about 350 members, all dog enthusiasts who volunteer their time with fundraisers, landscaping or simply picking up trash in the park. The city of Burnsville owns and operates the park.

"We’re really proud of our dog park," said Dowdy, a resident of Savage who visits the park several times a week with her 4-year-old Siberian husky, Sloan.

Others shared Dowdy’s reaction.

Garrett Beck, the recreation supervisor for Burnsville, first approached the city to open a dog park. He heard others complaining about the absence of a place for their dogs to romp without a leash. And, with two huskies of his own, he knew the city should have such a place.

Alimagnet Dog Park was opened in July 2001 and has been making renovations ever since.

Beck, who is also a board member of PACK, said the award will allow for additional improvements to the park.

Those improvements include a new fence to replace the one that stretches the perimeter of the dog park built by volunteers when the park initially opened. Also, a new, separate area will be added for small dogs or special needs dogs. The remainder of the $10,000 grant will be used for landscaping.

"It was [also] just a real nice way to recognize the work our volunteers have done the past four years," he said.

Caryl and Mike Stone are two of those many volunteers who dedicate themselves to the park.

The retirees visit Alimagnet twice a day so that their 2-year-old golden retriever, Annie, can exercise. Even though they’ve visited other dog parks in the area, they’ve chosen Alimagnet for the last couple of years because of its proximity to their Burnsville townhouse. The couple talked highly of Alimagnet, specifically the shaded paths that other dog parks lack. But, they contend there’s still room for improvement.

"The pond is the only problem," Caryl said. The pond is stagnant and full of algae.

Others don’t seem to mind.

Like Carter, the Doberman mix. Or Angie, of beagle-terrier mix.

The dogs are too preoccupied with the freedom from a leash, the arrival of newcomers and the greeting of other dogs.

"Its great to watch the interaction between the people and the dogs," Bob Stattman said. Stamman and his 10-year-old chow-chow, Zeus, travel from their Apple Valley townhouse to stop by Alimagnet once a day.

"It’s a great place," he added. "[Dogs] can come here and be dogs. [And], a lot of people have made a lot of friends here."

People greet each other and their dogs as the day winds down and most get off work. A half a dozen cars filled the parking lot and several people leaned up against fence posts near the pond’s edge, entertained by their dogs dappling in the water or wrestling with other dogs.

As more people and their four-legged family members arrived at the park, Gill and Lori Mestenhauser of Burnsville greeted the others they knew.

"Some people I know their dog and not them," Gill admitted as she shouted out a greeting to a dog entering the gate with its owner.

"First you learn the dog names," Mestenhauser agreed.

But then a woman and her German wirehair spaniel showed up that neither Gill nor Mestenhauser recognized.

They eagerly greeted her to the park and told her about the amenities.

Soon, another woman and her dog arrived.

"Ever been here before?" Mestenhauser immediately asked.

"Well, my husband usually comes," the first-time visitor replied.

"Well… this is Mocha," began the introductions.