Within the next month, Bismarck's dogs will likely have their own public meeting place, where they can romp and visit, freed of the leashes that keep them close to their owners' sides.

The park board has yet to take any formal action on the dog park but is in general agreement to move forward on the project. District director Steve Neu is still working on cost estimates for fencing and landscaping, which likely will be presented at the next park board meeting.

There has been some opposition to the project, and Neu plans on meeting with those living in the area to get input on the most recent plans for the park, developed from comments at earlier public meetings.

For most of the spring and summer, the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District has been working on plans to develop the community's first dog park, transforming three of four Century Complex softball fields into a canine playground sans leashes. At Thursday's park board meeting, Neu presented plans detailing the project. He explained that the project will have impacts far exceeding the confines of the Century Complex as it ties the entire area together with walking paths and landscaping.

The fence on the west side of the softball complex will be moved in 120 to 130 feet and the area between the fence and Fourth Street will be landscaped to create a buffer zone. The northeast field will be kept intact to be used by Century High School for physical education and practice. The field to the southeast will be converted into an open area for big dogs, the shortened field to the northwest an area for small dogs and the remaining southwest field into a dog training park.

Access to the dog parks will be from the west only, with an entrance leading to a central gathering area where owners can pick which park they wish to use and enter from there. Neu said research determined the need for separate areas for big and small dogs.

"We're getting close to even starting the use of the park," Neu said. "Within the next month we should be able to open using two of the fields. The first expense will be the relocation of the fence, though I don't have any numbers on that yet."

Board chairman Dan Hovland said that the reason for moving the softball fences was to mainly provide a buffer for neighbors. The fence will be about 200 feet from Fourth Street, and landscaping also will help dress up the area, Neu said. The plan is to stay away from using plants in the landscaping, relying more on rock and gravel, creating a low-maintenance landscape.

An interior walking trail will be built with access from the bike trails and sidewalks that encircle the entire Century Complex. The high school will take responsibility for the remaining softball field and the practice fields north of the dog park. An addition also will be made to the high school's parking lot on the west side.

"The bigger picture is what's happening with the whole area. We need to look at the dog park along with the changes occurring in this part of the community," Neu said. "We're looking at development of a green space along Calgary where the city is building a storm sewer detention facility. We want to build a trail from Washington along Calgary, tying in 10th Street and the racquetball center. The trail would tie into the bike trail along Highway 83 and go south all the way to the Capitol."

Neu said there are several resources the district may be able to tap to help with landscaping projects in the area, including North Dakota Game and Fish, environmental clubs and local nurseries.

It was noted that Fargo is developing its second dog park, and Minot and Jamestown are working on similar projects.

The next step, according to Neu, is for the park board to authorize the dog parks as leashless. The city of Bismarck changed its leash law ordinances, allowing the park district to designate areas where dogs can be allowed without leashes. The entire complex will be fenced in.

The district is sending plans to the condominium and apartment complex association presidents so they can disseminate the information for further public comment.

In other activity, the Bismarck Park Board:

3 Awarded Elks Aquatic Facility contracts to Northwest as the general contractor and Don's Electric and Northern Plains Plumbing for work on the bath house, public restrooms and renovation of the pump house. Associated Pools is on site doing underground work. The water park is scheduled to open Memorial Day 2006.

3 Accepted the 2004 audit report from Brady Martz. Board members will review the findings and make comments at a later meeting.