BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- It's been years in the making, but Bangor could open a dog park as soon as this summer.
The Bangor City Council Government Ops committee has approved plans to build a dog park in the Essex Woods, a park at the intersection of Essex Street and Watchmaker Street.
Now, the proposal moves to the rest of the Bangor City Council for approval.
A group of Bangor residents formed a Dog Park Committee about two years ago, and has been advocating for the park ever since.
The original plan was to build one in an area called the "roundhouse parcel" in the downtown area, near Geagan's restaurant on Dutton Street.
According to Bangor Director of Parks and Recreation Tracy Willette, city officials determined the parcel to be too valuable to turn into a park.
"So the group felt that with what they had hoped to have in place...and the concept of being able to be sold at some point, they felt better about looking at a different location, and identified Essex Woods as an ideal location for that," said Willette.
With the Bangor City Council's approval, members of the Dog Park Committee hope to break ground in the spring.
They plan to build fencing to create three sections in the park: one for large dogs, another for small dogs, and an area for training.
Dog owner and committee member Megan Nill said it will be a social atmosphere for both dogs and people.
"[The dogs] get that nervous energy out, not being cooped up in the house, and it gets me out of the house, and I get to meet other people with dogs," said Nill.
The fundraising goal is $50,000.
To get involved in the project, you can visit the Dog Park website.
NEWS CENTER