ohmidog!

   Mayor Sheila Dixon announced today that the city will build a 7,000-square-foot, enclosed dog park in Locust Point, Baltimore’s first city-funded dog park ever.
    And, the mayor said, it could be one of as many as eight dog parks coming to the city.
    Currently, the only other dog park within city limits is Canton Dog Park — built, funded and maintained by the Canton Community Association.
    The city will pay $150,000 for the design and construction of the fenced in dog play area in Latrobe Park. Construction is expected to start in April and could be complete by next August. Maintenance of the dog park will be the responsibility of the Locust Point Dog Park Committee, which has been pushing for the dog park for more than 18 months.
    The head of that committee Barbara Wilson, also speaking at a press conference in the park this evening, credited committee members and community backers with help making the park a reality.
    “The City couldn’t help but take notice of our motivation and granted us to be their first project,” the  dog park committee’s website says.
     Today’s press conference drew a bit of media attention to an issue that gets little coverage. Other than this WBAL report, from back in July, there has been little reporting on the need for dog parks, and (though we first  told you nearly two months ago) little mention in the mainstream media about the city’s new plan. The Baltimore Sun ran a six paragraph story on Dixon’s pending announcement this morning.
    Also appearing at the press conference was council member Edward L. Reisinger, who has been pushing for a dog park since 2003. Some community groups, such as the one trying to bring a dog park to Patterson Park, have been pushing even longer than that.
     After the press conference, Mayor Dixon and Recreation and Parks Director Wanda Durden confirmed that the city is looking at adding as many as eight dog parks in Baltimore.
    Mayor Dixon, who managed to get through the press conference with her cream-colored suit unsullied — despite the presence of about 75 dogs in the crowd, agreed to pose with Ace afterwards for a photo commemorating the occasion.
    And she didn’t even get mad when Ace took a seat — as he’s prone to do — directly atop one of her cream-colored shoes.
    A crowd of more than 100 turned out for the press conference, with nearly that many dogs in attendance as well.
    Here’s an artist’s rendering of what the dog park might look like.