By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - Kenton County Fiscal Court will consider a proposal next week to develop part of Pioneer Park as a dog park.

The fenced-in, two-acre park would allow dogs to run free for exercise and socialization.

"There will be a staff recommendation to the fiscal court on the 23rd,'' said Kenton County Deputy Judge-executive Scott Kimmich. "The ongoing maintenance costs have been the primary issue. We're working on alternatives to resolve that.''

Kimmich would not say what the recommendation would be, adding further study was needed. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Kenton County courthouse in Independence.

Supporters of a Kenton County Paw Park recently slashed estimates of construction costs from $67,230 to $19,953. The 13-member committee estimates the park's annual maintenance costs would be $5,820.

The committee has agreed to raise $44,000 to cover construction and four years of maintenance, provided the fiscal court gives the go-ahead by year's end. Supporters hope to start construction in the spring.

"We feel very good about it,'' said Villa Hills resident Tom Biedenharn, who has led the effort for a Kenton County Paw Park. "We would not push for the dog park unless we felt we could collect the money needed.''

Biedenharn said many individuals and businesses have pledged to give money for the project as soon as a site is confirmed.

If approved, the project would join more than 600 dog parks nationwide, including two in Greater Cincinnati. West Chester Township opened its "Wiggly Field'' dog park in the Voice of America Park on Oct. 1 and Cincinnati's Mount Airy Forest also features a popular dog park.

Last month, Fort Thomas in neighboring Campbell County started clearing a two-acre hillside behind Highland Hills Park for an $18,000 to $20,000 dog park in that city. An Ohio company is erecting a 5-foot fence that will enclose the dog park.

"We hope to have our facility open and ready for use certainly by spring, if not earlier,'' said Fort Thomas Administrator Jeff Earlywine. A citizens committee that lobbied for the park has raised about $13,500, and the city is contributing another $5,000 to $6,000 from its Tower Park Enterprise Fund.

"We don't really see (the dog park) as a high maintenance facility,'' Earlywine said. "We're hoping users will respect the dog park and clean up after their animals and not leave any litter around.''

Call Tom Biedenharn at (859) 341-4455 or E-mail the dog park committee at dogspaw2004@yahoo.com

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com