WHITEFISH – With the snip of a blue and red leash, the Hugh Rogers Wag Park made its debut Saturday morning.
At a little after noon, more than 75 local pooches were sniffing, chasing and rolling their way around the five acres of green open space at Armory Park created just for them by the city of Whitefish and the Whitefish Animal Group (WAG).
“I am elated for the community – not just the dog community, but for Whitefish,” said Steve Lull, president of the WAG board of directors. “There’s a real need for this, and it could have been done many different ways. Everything aligned to make it the best it could possibly be.”
Rain clouds parted and the sun peeked through just enough for Flathead Valley residents and their furry friends to enjoy the park opening festivities, which included the leash cutting ceremony, a hot dog feast, informational booths and tips on dog park etiquette from Kalispell dog trainer Ellie Bell.
Bell told dog owners to be alert and observant when entering the dog park.
“Ask yourself two questions,” she said. “Is everybody having fun?” and “Is the play reciprocal?”
Wagging tails were aplenty as the diversity of canines, which ran the gamut from Chihuahuas to bull dogs to even a three-legged lab, demonstrated their best behavior.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing so many dogs and people without any dog fights,” said Karl Cozad, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services for the City of Whitefish.
Lull said Cozad was instrumental in urging forward plans for the new dog park. “When he moved here, he instantly saw we had thousands of dogs in the area and no place for them,” Lull said.
Cozad moved to Whitefish from Oregon about a year ago, where he had retired from working with the state’s Parks and Recreation department for 35 years. When he met with the WAG board he noticed their energy, belief and commitment to the dog park project. Cozad immediately put together a work plan for them, implementing city standards.
Myni Ferguson, who kept busy filling out dog licenses for park visitors Saturday, is vice president of the WAG board and one of the masterminds behind the dog park.
In May 2005, Ferguson, who is involved in animal advocacy in the Flathead Valley, was hosting a conference at the Armory when she and a few other attendees formulated the idea.
“We were sitting around after a presentation and thought, ‘We really need a dog park in Whitefish and this would be a great place for it right here,’” Ferguson said. One month later, she went to the Parks and Recreation board with the idea.
While the board had already been discussing the need for a dog park, she said the plan was not without obstacles.
“We live in an area where people didn’t think we needed a dog park,” she said, noting the abundance of Whitefish’s trails and hiking areas. But the group wanted a space where dogs could roam freely off-leash, without the risk of harassment to local wildlife.
Lull and Cozad noted the support from Whitefish City Council members Nick Palmer and Nancy Woodruff, as well as Mayor Mike Jenson and City Manager Chuck Stearns.
“Their support and endorsement have gone a long way into making this happen,” Cozad said.
He said the dog park’s location next to the Armory, softball fields, and volunteer-built skate and dirt bike jump parks makes it a great fit with the theme of community.
“People have a passion for developing quality of life,” Cozad said.
The Hugh Rogers Wag Park was named for the Whitefish veterinarian who recently died in a plane crash, and was financed solely by community donations. WAG Secretary Sandie Carpenter, played fetch with her sheltie Dexter while discussing her role in helping to raise money for the park.
“These are lean times, and it’s tough asking people for money,” she said. “But I just keep asking. It’s an ongoing effort.”
The group hopes to raise enough money in the future to expand the park to include a nearby pond, a closed-in small dog area, additional benches and a pavilion.
“I love the idea that there’s a place where dogs can socialize and have fun without worrying about them running in the road,” Columbia Falls resident Sally Johnson said.
Johnson, who brought along her black lab Ole and boxer mix Claudius to the festivities, said there is no place designated just for dogs in Columbia Falls – and she’s glad the park is open to everyone in the Flathead Valley.
“Nothing brings a community together like dogs,” she said.