April 2021 | Vol. 18 Iss. 04
FREE FERGUSON CANYON TO GET OVERFLOW PARKING WILL INCLUDE OFF-LEASH DOG AREA By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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n Cottonwood Heights, a new park will be constructed before the end of the year. The Ferguson Canyon Park (Ferguson Trailhead Parking Overflow) will be accessible from Wasatch Boulevard through Prospector Drive (between Bengal Boulevard and Fort Union Boulevard on Wasatch Boulevard). Preliminary plans for the 3.5 acres include a restroom, pavilion, asphalt loop path, natural path, and a fenced in off-leash dog area. “An area of this park property will be fenced with the intent to be an off-leash dog park, along with a perimeter around the park,” said Blu Line Designs Senior Landscape Architect Rob Donigan. “When entering the off-leash area, you’ll go through a double gated system.” As Cottonwood Heights residents have been fighting for a dog park within the city for years, Cottonwood Heights City councilmembers anticipate many public comments regarding the design. “I will be getting the calls and so will the mayor,” said Councilmember Christine Mikell. Based on previous discussions regarding dog parks, the main concern councilmembers anticipate hearing from residents will involve overuse. “We need to control usage,” said Mayor Michael Peterson. In order to not draw regional attention by attributing the area as a dog park, Ferguson Canyon Park will continue to be designed and marketed as a city park. “We won’t market it as a regional amenity,” Peterson said. “We can downplay the dog park wording so it doesn’t get thought of as a dog park,” said Mikell. “This is Ferguson Canyon overflow parking; I don’t think we need to tout it as anything more than that. Our residents will figure it out.” “This is really quite small so I wouldn’t call it a dog park but an off-leash area,” Peterson contributed. Councilmember Scott Bracken suggested encouraging residents and visitors to think of the off-leash dog area as a
A paved walking loop within the Ferguson Canyon Park will be ADA accessible. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
supplement, not a destination. “You went to (Ferguson Canyon Trail) and brought your dog. Oh look, here’s an area you can let them run.” Some potential amenities discussed to include in the off-leash dog area were wash-off stations, combination water foundations with a dog bowl underneath, water hydrants, and water spigots. While the off-leash dog area will continue to be a point of discussion, it is not the only element of the planned park. The park will have a paved looped path with natural trails spurring from it, along with restrooms, shade kiosks and benches. “We are open to all ideas so we may be looking at some
additional amenities,” said Public Works Director Matt Shipp. Councilmember Doug Peterson asked about the trees within the area. “We will try to diversify and incorporate a mixture of both deciduous and evergreen trees,” Donigan said. “The intent is to maintain as much of the existing vegetation as possible,” said Donigan. “As we disturb the site, we will put back the native vegetation.” An irrigation system has been incorporated in the preliminary plan in both the park and parking lot for survivability of the larger plant material. “Wear and tear will always be a Continued page 5
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