ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — There is going to be a dog park in Orange Beach sooner or later. But the question remains, where?

The original location considered was a small piece of property, adjacent to Water Front Park, but Mayor Tony Kennon expressed issues with that site.

“We have done such a good job with Water Front Park and that whole area, to me a dog park just doesn’t fit in. I think it would be detrimental to the aesthetics of that area,” Kennon said. “The other thing is that I felt the area was just too small. The marina property or the property behind the teen center gives us a much, much larger space for big dogs.”

At a recent work session, Councilwoman Joni Blalock said that the mayor and members of the city council had recently toured the city in an effort to locate the best possible location for the dog park.

Blalock, who has been a big supporter of the dog park, said that the northwest corner of a large piece of land that was previously considered for a marina project would be ideal for the city’s canine park.

Blalock asked council members if they had been out to the property and wanted to get their reactions.

Other than the fact that restrooms might have to be added, the council seemed to be in agreement that the property being suggested was a prime spot for the facility.

Apparently, not everyone feels that way.

Before the June 16 city council meeting even began, tempers were flaring over the proposed site.

“I can just see it now on the cover of USA Today – Orange Beach has the most expensive dog park in the world, building it on a $10 million piece of property,” said Allen McElroy, who lives next to the proposed site.

The dog park would only take up one quarter of the property being suggested. 

The new proposed park would sit on land originally slated to be developed into a marina, a project that has been delayed, and presently is not being used.

But McElroy was very direct in how he felt about the use of the property.

“Can you believe that they are going to sit up here and vote to spend money to put a dog park on this property? You know what the dogs are going to do on it?  They are going to crap on it. Ten million dollars for a place for dogs to go crap,” McElroy said.

When asked where he thought the city should put the dog park, McElroy suggested a piece of land just behind City Hall. However, that piece of land was rejected because it is used for emergency helicopter landings.

City Administrator Ken Grimes said the city has taken time and looked at various locations in which to put the park.

“There truly have been a number of sites considered,” Grimes said. “We have looked at sites to the south of City Hall, a site down by the water tank, an area back behind the museum, a space behind the teen and aquatics center. But the thing with the marina site is that this is unused land where we probably don’t have anything happening in the coming years.”

Grimes said that over time, when the market turns, should the city get a legitimate offer for the land, the park would be relocated to another site and the cost of relocating would be included in the sale of the land.

Supporters of the dog park have been obtaining donations and hosting fundraisers to pay for the fencing that will be required around the facility.

Also, Baldwin Animal Rescue Center has been very supportive in the effort to get the dog park in place.

Grimes said donations have been coming through the city, but they are a result of the efforts of those who have been volunteering to raise the funds.

The issue was tabled until the next city council meeting, which Grimes said was good, because it will allow supporters to give an update on the funds that have been raised thus far. Supporters are wanting to raise $20,000 and it is believed that half has already been donated.