Update at Chatfield State Park- Dog Off Leash Area
Update at Chatfield State Park- Dog Off Leash Area
May 19, 2011
Recently I met with Scott Roush, Chatfield State Park Manager, to review the finalized plans for the dog area. Scott was most generous with his time and in answering all my questions.
First, the dog area has an official name used by all the Park Staff and Rangers. It is called the DOLA (Dog Off Leash Area) at both Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks.
The name of the Ranger that supervises the Chatfield DOLA is Heather. She is nice to all persons that display their DOLA passes and has recovered from being bitten on the hand by a jumping Terrier. Please control your pets when stopping to talk with her and please treat her like you would like to be treated if you had her job.
PHASE ONE:
The first construction projects, using the Great Outdoors Colorado Fund (GOCO)/Lottery Funds ($250,000) approved several years ago, include the following:
RULES & REGULATIONS SIGNS AND PAY STATIONS- These items were installed at both the Owl Glen and Stevens Grove parking areas on new concrete pads in early May.
FENCE- I reviewed the DOLA plan and fence location with Scott and it looks substantially as approved by the Parks Board last July. Currently the DOLA maps are being reviewed by the staff at the U.S. Army Corps head office in Omaha, NE. The only adjustments I found in the fence location were related to the underground pipes, conduit, etc. owned by The Corps. When the DOLA plan is approved, the fence construction will be put out to bid to local fencing companies. Scott said he did not think that would happen until after June 1st. Reminder: The fence is 5 feet high with wire running along a combination of wood and steel posts around the perimeter of the DOLA.
ENTRANCES- At the Stevens Grove and Owl Glen parking lots there will be two separate “bull pen” entrances constructed on either side of the new concrete pad supporting the Park Signs and Pay Station. You will be able to come and go from either entrance. The interior of the “bull pen” will be filled with concrete so it doesn’t turn into a mud hole. Dogs must be leashed until they are through the bull pen area and into the DOLA.
WALKING PATHS- Some of the asphalt paths will be removed, moved and replaced with 8’wide gravel or “crusher fines.” Specifically, the path going southwest from the Owl Glen parking lot, around the southwest end of the DOLA and up the entire west side along the South Platte River Channel out of the Chatfield Dam. This change is mostly due to the location of the new fence, especially on the river channel side. A new gravel/crusher fines path will be constructed on the outside of the DOLA fence from the Owl Glen parking lot to the concrete Dam outlet for the fishermen to access the river channel below the Dam.
SPORT DOG TRAINING (SDT) AREA- The current SDT area, across the road from Owl Glen parking lot, will be fenced with an opening, no gate, at the current road. The new SDT fenced area, which is larger than original plan approved in July 2010, will attach to the Fish Hatchery fencing and parking spaces will be built just inside the area. The SDT’s are required to obtain a State Parks special use permit to use the area and the DOLA users are not allowed in the area without the same permit.
PHASE TWO:
The State Parks has applied for a grant from the GOCO/Lottery Funds, for $600,000 plus, to complete both the Chatfield and Cherry Creek DOLA. If approved, the funds will be available in the next fiscal year starting July 1, 2011.
ASPHALT PATHS- The paths will be repaired, upgraded and blended with the gravel/crusher fine paths.
BATHROOMS/WATER STATIONS- Both bathrooms will be weatherized with insulation, heaters and electrical upgrades. Ideally this will happen prior to next winter, but since it has taken over a year to get the fence built, do not count on it. Combined human and dog water stations will be added within the fenced DOLA near the bathrooms. I also spoke to Scott about hooks or something similar to tie up our dogs while we use the facilities. He has several ideas but nothing specific yet to solve this issue.
WASTE BAGS AND TRASH CANS- More and new trash cans and waste bag holders will be located strategically around the DOLA. The trash cans will have a swinging type lid, which I assume is animal proof, so it will be easier to deposit waste bags. As of now, the Park is not providing the waste bags. The Cherry Creek State Park DOLA has contracted with a nonprofit that will provide recyclable waste bags, trash cans and then pick up and remove the waste to a recycling facility. Chatfield is waiting to see if that system is successful before changing the system at the Chatfield DOLA. The large green dumpsters, from the Stevens Grove and Owl Glen parking areas will be moved to just inside the fenced SDT area.
BICYCLISTS- The bike path into the Cottonwood Grove (3rd) parking lot will be demolished and the walkers and bikers coming from the C-470 regional trail will be rerouted on the concrete path and then to the Stevens Grove parking lot with a new path. The State Parks are also requesting a grant from GOCO/Lottery Funds to continue the bike lane from the top of the Chatfield Dam to the Stevens Grove parking lot. Hopefully they will get the grant so we don’t have to deal with the bikers in our car lane anymore. Bicyclists are discouraged from riding inside the DOLA.
VEGETATIVE REHABILITATION & EROSION CONTROL- The walls of the two waste treatment ponds will be seeded, planted and repaired to maintain their integrity. New trees will be planted around the two DOLA entrance areas since there will be access to water from the bathrooms. Other areas will be improved also.
MORE INFORMATION:
BENCHES- “Memorial” Benches, to be installed in the DOLA or other areas of Chatfield State Park, can be purchased by contacting Keith Kahler, Chatfield Operations Manager. The green webcoat benches, with black supports, are eight feet long with a choice of a bronze cast or a plastic plaque. You meet with Mr. Kahler, in the Park, to approve the location for the bench. You order and pay for the bench and plaque directly to the recommended venders and the Park Staff install it at no cost. The benches cost around $350.00 and the engraved plaques cost- $50-$200.00. Call Keith Kahler at 303-791-7275 for more information.
HAZARDOUS & RUSTED WIRE, CONDUIT, PIPING, CULVERTS, STAKES, CONCRETE, ETC.- I took photos of all the hazardous material that I could find around the DOLA and gave them to Scott. Hopefully, the majority of these dangerous items will be removed so our dogs and children will not get hurt.
CHATFIELD DOLA PASSES SOLD FROM JANUARY 1st to April 30th, 2011-
Annual: 2,212 x $20.00= $44,420.
Day: 2,145 x $ 2.00= $ 4,290.
$ 48,530.00
Thank you,
Marne H. Tutt
Colorado Off Leash Dog Association (COLDA), Director
Colorado State Parks, DOLA User Stakeholder