Residents and visitors, along with their four-legged friends, were happy to see the Sedona Dog Park reopen on Saturday, Nov. 18, after a two-month closure for renovations.

In honor of the reopening, the public is invited to join city staff and members of the Sedona City Council at the park on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. The city will have pet treats courtesy of a Sedona grocer and small gifts for early attendees.

The Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments and contractors Norris Design and Valwest Construction began work in September on renovations on one of the city’s more popular parks.

Renovations included:

• Two paved Americans with Disabilities Act parking spaces and six additional parking spots.
• An improved paved entry, shaded seating spots, and canine grass and decomposed granite play areas.
• A meandering hardscaped area leading to shade structures and benches.
• New watering stations for small and large dogs with improved drainage and river rocks.

The entire park has been regraded for improved drainage and erosion control, with new landscaping and an updated irrigation system. “I think it looks amazing,” Parks and Recreation Manager Rachel Murdoch said. “I love the organization and cleanliness of the new parking lot and entrance area. It is beautiful to see the shaded grass area when you first walk in. Very inviting.”

At press time, the water fountains had yet to be installed but were supposed to have been completed earlier this week. In addition, there are new signs going up but aside from that, improvements are complete.

“It’s definitely an upgrade from how it looked before,” said Nancy Simmons, who was at the park with her dog, Beau. “There are a lot of us who come here on a regular basis so the improvements are definitely appreciated.”

In August, the council approved awarding a contract to Valwest Construction, out of Gilbert, in the amount of $228,548.50. Since the project was budgeted this year for $180,000, the remaining amount will come from the developmental impact fee fund.

The city had put the project out to bid earlier in the year but received just one bid of $334,000. In order to reduce potential costs, staff removed parking improvements along Carruth Drive, which would have only added two additional parking spaces.

Last year council approved $18,120 for a master plan design to be completed by Norris Design for the dog park. After four community outreach meetings and council input, a master plan was created that addresses all improvements that can be made over time.

In terms of what’s planned for the future, Murdoch said there is additional work that could be done in future phases but they are not scheduled. The Sedona Dog Park is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the fall and winter months. It is located at 950 Soldier Pass Road.

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122, or email reland@larsonnewspapers.com