NEWMAN – A proposal to develop a dog park on city-owned property near Sherman Park will go before the Parks and Recreation Commission tonight (Thursday).

Local dog park enthusiast Marlena Cardinal, the founder of Friends for Sophia’s Dog Park, will ask the city to partner with the non-profit group to build a park where canines can frolic and socialize off-leash.

Despite having a large population of dog owners, Cardinal points out, Newman has no park dedicated to canine companions.

But there is demand and growing community support for a dog park, she maintains.

Cardinal said she has petitions signed by more than 600 people – representing over 1,500 dogs – who support the dog park idea.

She envisions a facility with amenities such as a digging area, landscaping, canine learning enrichment center, doggie drinking fountains, benches and a picnic table for the dogs’ human handlers and plenty of room to run.

A separate area would be fenced off for small dogs, and eventually a dog wading pond could be added.

Cardinal said the area could also be used to host vaccination and licensing clinics, educational programs and other activities to promote responsible pet ownership.

The city has a property which might fit the bill, a parcel of slightly less than one-half acre on Marapole Lane, across from the Sherman Park basketball courts.

City Manager Michael Holland indicated he is supportive of the plan.

The parcel is between two residential lots and does not lend itself to other types of uses, he commented.

A dog park would be less intrusive than, say, putting more basketball courts between the two lots, Holland continued, and prospective buyers of neighboring lots would know in advance that a dog park was planned.

“We believe it is a unique opportunity, and we believe the impact would be minimal,” Holland commented. “We are at a point where we need to take it to the Parks and Recreation Commission and have them consider whether or not this would be a good idea.”

Holland said the proposed partnership calls for the city to provide the land and spend about $9,500 for initial improvements such as turf, irrigation and garbage cans. Friends for Sophia’s Dog Park would be responsible for developing the other improvements and amenities. The city would maintain the park.

Cardinal said the group is planning a fund-raiser and exploring grant opportunities.

She has been pushing for development of a local dog park since 2004, when her beloved dog Sophia escaped from a fenced field thought to be safe for an off-leash run and was struck by a vehicle.

“A dog park doesn’t have to be huge,” she reflected. “It just has to be a safe place to run off-leash, where they are not in danger.”

She remains dedicated to building a local dog park, and is optimistic that the idea will meet with approval from the commission, which, if supportive, will forward a recommendation to the City Council favoring development of a dog park.

“I think (the city) is very open to it; I think the time has come,” Cardinal remarked. “I think this is imperative to the community. We think dog parks are an incredible asset for any community.”

The Parks and Recreation Commission convenes at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) in the City Council chambers.