DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The Decatur community members are upset about losing a dog park at Wilson Morgan Park despite assurances it would remain in place.
Mike Faruqui regularly walks his dogs in the park and says that he was led to believe that the recreation center would be built around the park.
“We have four dogs, and they love to go play down there or did,” Faruqui said. “Now that they removed it, and oh by the way, removed it without a suitable example put in place, it even temporarily.”
In March 2024, Decatur Parks and Recreation announced plans to begin an approved $52 million remodel of Wilson Morgan Park. Faruqui said the community was misled when updated plans for the park revealed the dog park would be eliminated.
City officials constructed a new dog park at Wolverine Park in Point Mallard. City council president Jacob Ladner says the decision to shut the park down was a matter of safety over convenience.
“I just think that with all of that construction going on at that site, it just really isn’t safe to keep it there as that construction is going on,” Ladner explained. “We looked at different places to have a temporary dog park while the construction is going on, and we landed on Wolverine Park out near the river.”
The dog park at Wolverine is a 15-minute drive from Wilson Morgan.
But while some support the progress made by the city, others told News 19 that the new location presents challenges of its own.
“Those plans were made by city officials and not the citizens that use that park,” said Decatur citizen Sarah French. “Seniors use the Wilson Morgan dog park for meetings and for their pets and can’t get to Wolverine.”
Decatur city officials say they will continue to work with residents to possibly add another temporary dog park.
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