Nancy Edmonds Hanson
hansonnanc@gmail.com

A project high on the city parks department’s wish list is finally going to the dogs. On Monday, the Moorhead City Council chose a location for the much-requested southside dog park. It will be located in the middle of River Oaks Point, west of 40th Avenue South on River Haven Drive. The point of land extends into the Red River, where most housing was bought out and removed 20 years ago after the 1997 flood.
The council narrowed down possible locations for the much-requested canine park to River Oaks Point last June, after rejecting several alternatives including Southside Regional Park and Riverfront Park downtown. At that time, the council charged the parks and public works departments with gathering opinions from the community on proposed sites on the chosen spit of land along the Red River, including both nearby property owners and the community at large.
Public works director Steve Moore shared results of that research at this week’s meeting. He told council members that 468 residents responded to an online survey gauging the need, potential usage and amenities owners would like to see at the park. According to his tabulation, 74% of respondents said they and their pooches would use the park, with 60% expressing their willingness to donate to build and equip the area. The dog park is listed in the Moorhead Community Fund as a project for fund raising. There is currently $25,000 approved in the 2019 Capital Improvement account and $40,000 set aside in the Park Amenities Fund that is available to be used to jump start this project or to be use as matching funds for grants.
Three spots on River Oaks Point were presented as possible sites Monday, from one close to River Haven Road and another midway down the peninsula to a third at its far west end. More than half of those who responded to the survey prefered the closest … the one that drew the greatest objections from nearby homeowners. Seeking a compromise, the council settled on the second option at the midpoint – farther from running water than the original roposal, but also less vulnerable to flooding. Option #2 is about 450 feet from the nearest residence.
Mike Hulett, who lives a block and a half east of the area, enthusiastically endorsed the project. “The neighborhood is turning over, with young families with children moving in … and a lot of dogs,” he said. “River Oaks already draws people from all over for catfishing, playing basketball, biking, exercising their pets and enjoying the outdoors. This is a great place to have a dog park. I applaud you.”
Another resident who lives nearby, Martin Hart, shared a different perspective. “Our deck will overlook it. Now you want to put a chain-link kennel in, and we’ll be looking out on a circus.”
After the council approved the compromise site, they directed the parks and public works departments to obtain preliminary cost estimates, develop a variety of community engagement tactics for on amenities within the dog park, assess fund-raising options and methods, and develop a phased plan for site development as funding is secured.

Public housing levy
The directors of the Clay County Housing and Rehabilitation Agency and Moorhead Public Housing Agency asked for the council’s consent to apply a countywide special benefit tax within the city of Moorhead – more or less a legal formality requested of the cities of Moorhead and Barnesville, since the tax is actually levied by the HRA’s board of commissioners. Dara Lee of Clay County pointed out that, while such levies have been conducted across most of the county numerous times over past years, the first time city residents had been taxed was in 2019. About $225,000 is again requested for 2020.
The HRA’s board of commissioners, which sets the agency’s budget, has levied 19% of the maximum it is allowed for 2020 – “an estimated tax rate of 0.000035%,” Lee said. The levy, to which the city council consented, amounts to an annual total of $3.50 per $100,000 in property value.
Dawn Bacon of Moorhead’s PHA said more than 250 households are served by the city’s program. “They’re primarily people with disabilities or the elderly, often both, as well as families moving out of homelessness,” she explained. The families include some 100 children. The two agencies work closely on affordable housing alternatives, largely funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with grants from state programs.

Council applauds Lowe’s Hero project
Steve Moore reported on the rehabilitation of the children’s maze at Gooseberry Park through the generosity of the Lowe’s Hero Project. Tom Gillian and 30 volunteers from Fargo’s Lowe’s Home Improvements brought the playground up to speed, replacing panels, painting the metal frame and contributing both their time and $3,000 in supplies. Moorhead children decorated the refurbished panels with colorful artwork.