Construction of the city of Apache Junction’s first off-leash dog park has begun, with ceremonies held Aug. 19 at the site.

The dog park at the Pinal County complex, 575 N. Idaho Road, is more than a decade in the making and is funded by city growth, according to a release.

“Our staff has always reported that our residents have asked for a dog park more than any other amenity,” Mayor Chip Wilson, who put a ceremonial shovel in the ground on Thursday afternoon, said in the release. “We just had to find a way to get it funded and make a deal with our great partners at Pinal County.”

Funded by development fees, the park came to life with an intergovernmental agreement with Pinal County, which has an office complex and work yard on the site.

“This park has been the dream of a lot of people for as long as I can remember,” Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy, who was mayor of Apache Junction prior to winning the supervisor seat in 2020, said in the release. “It’s great the way the city of Apache Junction and Pinal County were able to cooperate to bring this awesome community project to life. I know of nowhere else in the Valley that loves and cherishes their dog more than Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.”

The site is part of the Pinal County complex that includes county offices, a state motor vehicle location, the Superstition Community Food Bank and offices for the Superstition Fire and Medical District.

The 3.4-acre open space set aside for the dog park has served as a retention basin and undeveloped recreation space. Under the agreement with the county, the city is building and will maintain the dog park. The design will also mitigate drainage problems in the basin, the release states.

Among the amenities planned for the dog park:

• Three separate fenced areas to provide options for different types of dogs;
• Solar lighting;
• Double entry gates for added security and safety;
• •Shade trees and benches;
• Pet waste stations and tools for clean-up spaced throughout the park;
• Water stations for dog owners and dogs;
• Covered ramada; and
• Public art installations.

The city has considered and planned for the development of an off-leash dog park for more than 10 years but securing funding was historically a challenge. Efforts were recently revitalized when the city partnered with Arizona State University’s Project Cities program which helped evaluate interest, funding and logistics.

The city Parks and Recreation Commission and the Apache Junction City Council identified a cost-effective, central location in the downtown area for the dog park, which will have separate fenced areas for varying sizes of dogs, grass, water stations, solar lighting, shade and seating. Scholz Contracting LLC is the contractor on the project, the release states.

For more information and updates on the park, go to www.apachejunctionaz.gov/dogpark.

The construction budget is backed by development fees, funds collected from new commercial development in the city that by law is earmarked for park improvements. Although the city has planned to include ongoing maintenance into its general fund, the city will continue to seek grants, donations and corporate partners that may be interested in contributing to funding the project or additional amenities. For more information, email ajpr@apachejunctionaz.gov.