La Grange Park May Get Dog Park

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said the community-wide survey was sent out in January of 2021.

LA GRANGE PARK, IL — A dog park may be in La Grange Park's future, but some neighbors are not happy with that.

The Community Park District of La Grange Park is set to vote on approval of a five-year master plan on Monday, according to the meeting's agenda. Included in the plan is a proposed dog park at Robinhood Park, 1121 E. 31st St.

Some residents, like Kathy Johnson, do not approve of a dog park in their neighborhood. She said residents' research has found dog parks cause nearby property values to drop.

Johnson also said the district made no effort to include residents in the planning and feels strongly the park district let them down on the issue.

However, the park district's executive director, Jessica Cannaday, told Patch her agency sent an online, community-wide survey to all area households in January of this year.

Cannaday also said the park district has held public workshops and an open meeting for the public to make comments about the master plan.

At the open meeting, concerns were made about proposed dog and skate parks at Robinhood Park. Cannaday said that is why the park district indicated in its concept for the park that the skate and dog parks were optional, depending on community support.

According to the master plan, a dog park was one of the most common requests in the feedback from the survey and workshops.

Cannaday said the plans for Robinhood are all conceptual. More will need to be done to create final plans, she said.

The Community Park District's board is set to meet at 6:30 p.m. at the district's office, 1501 Barnsdale Road.