Carmel dog park discussion moves forward

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - Carmel is one step closer to creating its first dog park. Carmel’s City Council heard an update on the discussions, Monday night.

Mark Westermeier, the Director of Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, said the Park Board will vote on a plan, next Tuesday.  He described the site of the proposed park, broadly, as the north campus of Central Park.  It will be on 116th Street, a little west of Rangeline Road.  The land is known for its Yellow Meeting House, right now.

Westermeier said park designers identified that area as the site where most people would like the first park to be.  “There really needs to be more than one dog park for Carmel,” Westermeier said. “But we need to start with one and learn from that and then go on into other dog parks.”

Westermeier identified West Park in Carmel as a possible second site for a dog park.  A third could be designed for the east side of Carmel.

“I think it’s very important to understand that a dog park isn’t necessarily a park that’s just for dogs,” Westermeier told the council.  “Dog parks are very much about the people who own dogs and the social avenues that they get from having a place for their dogs.”  He said the park is “important for the dogs.  It’s just as important for the people.”

If the first dog park is approved, next week, Westermeier said construction could begin, later this year.

Later, Westermeier told Carmel council members about a possible investment in a pool.  He said the owner of the Brookshire Swim Club would like to sell.  But, since the pool is “in the midst of city property,” making a deal could be complicated.  That “city property” is the Brookshire Golf Course. 

Westermeier said owning the pool would give his staff the opportunity to offer more swimming lessons and other programs than are possible now.  He said, though, his office would move forward on such a purchase only if ownership of the pool would be deemed a good business decision.