Kenosha County Will Have Off-Leash Dog Park Thanks to PAWS

There are approximately 22.5 thousand dogs in Kenosha County and they have a new hero, Lisa Saliture. Lisa had been traveling to dog parks in other towns to allow her 2 dogs, Shelby and Remington the opportunity to run off leash and to socialize with other dogs. She noticed that her dogs appeared happier and more relaxed after a good hard romp in the park. But she couldn’t help but wish for a more convenient location where she and other residents of Kenosha could bring their four-legged friends. She first contacted Art Strong, the City of Kenosha Parks Director, in January 2005 to inquire about the possibility of a dog park in Kenosha. She was told that Kenosha had considered the idea but for now there was no budget for such a park. She saw the disappointment in the eyes of her foxhound, Shelby, and knew she could not sit back and not speak out for the dogs in Kenosha.

By April, Lisa had scouted out several areas that could be easily converted into a dog park and brought them to the attention of the parks department. She got no response. Later that month she learned that another dog lover had submitted a petition for a dog park in Alford Park, this proposal was shot down due to the proximity to the Lake and high traffic streets. She sat back and waited, eager to help out if this petition gained momentum. When nothing else happened, Lisa took action.

She started a petition and began her crusade in earnest. One afternoon in July, she visited Petrified Springs Park on the Northwest side of Kenosha. Pets as it is affectionately called by Kenosha residents, is a picturesque 150 acre park complete with a running brook and miles of hiking trails through the woods. The park is a frequent destination for family picnics, hiking and bike riding in the summer and cross-country skiing and sledding in the winter. She found two locations within the park that offered privacy, easy access, and natural beauty. As she looked around she knew this was it, this was the perfect location!