DANE COUNTY CONSIDERING NEW DOG PARK
August 28, 2019
Sharon Corrigan, County Board Chair
County Board
Off-leash area eyed at Anderson Farm County Park near Oregon
The late Dane County Supervisor and Wisconsin Legislator Lyman Anderson was long known as a dog lover and now his family farmland is set to become a haven for four-legged visitors.
On Wednesday, the Dane County Park Commission will consider a $48,934 contract with KL Engineering for design and architectural work on a new off-leash dog facility at Anderson Farm County Park near Oregon. The Commission meets at 6 p.m. at Fish Camp County Park, south of McFarland on Lake Kegonsa.
“I think we all know the joy that comes from having a pet, but studies are now showing the impact goes well beyond just getting some exercise,” says County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan (District 26, Middleton). “Pets can improve mental health, longevity and our overall quality of life. Creating a new dog exercise facility at Anderson Farm County Park is a great addition to our already outstanding park system.”
Dane County currently offers seven other off-leash dog parks and is considered a national leader in this area. Current dog parks include Badger Prairie, Capital Springs Recreation Area, Indian Lake, Prairie Moraine, Token Creek, Viking and Yahara Heights. A permit is required and is valid at all dog parks.
Anderson Farm County Park was established in 2014 and is the newest Recreation Park in the Dane County Parks system. The park is approximately 310 acres and features a mix of woodland, agricultural fields and a small prairie planted in 2016.
Located on Union Road just south of the village of Oregon, the park is named after the Lyman F. Anderson Family farmstead founded at the site in 1886. Anderson, who passed away in 2005, was a former County Board Supervisor and also served in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Dane County Supervisor Jerry Bollig of Oregon, whose 31st District includes Anderson Farm County Park, says it’s appropriate to locate the newest dog park there given the entire Anderson family were avid dog lovers.
“It’s exciting to observe how county staff and the many volunteers are keeping the former Anderson farmstead productive,” says Bollig. “The dog park will contribute to the heath and enjoyment of users and bring Anderson Farm County Park another step closer to being a destination for county residents.”
The next meeting of the full Dane County Board is scheduled for Thursday Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in Room 201 of the City-County Building.
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About the County Board of Supervisors:
The 37-member, nonpartisan Dane County Board of Supervisors represents the needs and welfare of all residents of Dane County, Wisconsin, and sets policy for County operations in the areas of human needs, infrastructure, criminal justice, the environment and County finance. The County Board meets twice monthly at 7 p.m. in Room 201 of the City-County Building.