Council green lights Doggiestock at Centennial Fields
August 11, 2010
By Dan Catchpole
Good dog? Bad dog?
Either way, Snoqualmie City Council is allowing Doggiestock, a festival to raise money for Valley Animal Partners, to go ahead as scheduled Sept. 18 at Centennial Fields.
City officials had initially told event organizers that they would likely not be able to use the athletic fields due potential damage dog urine could cause to the carefully manicured turf.
After discussions with the public and a city parks official, the council approved the festival’s special permit application.
Several council members said they were worried about taxpayers having to pay for repairing the field.
However, a representative from the Parks Department told council members that the organizers had plans in place to prevent or minimize any potential damage.
“You can tell they spent many, many hours putting this together,” Parks Department official Larry White said.
The cost for repairing any damage that is caused could likely be recovered from the event’s liability policy, White said.
There was some confusion over the purpose of Centennial Fields.
As organizers noted, the city’s website advertises it as “perfect for community festivals, family reunions, high school reunions, wedding and baby showers or baseball/softball tournaments.”
The organizers said they had been looking for a new venue after last year’s event at Snoqualmie Point Park, which was too spread out and hilly for vendors and participants.
“We believed you when you said it is the perfect place for community festivals,” organizer Judy Runge said.
Last year’s event drew 300-400 people and 50-75 dogs.
“This is a people event,” Runge said.
Other venues, such as Meadowbrook Farm, are too rough for vendors and festival-goers.
“Centennial Fields is a ball field,” Councilman Jeff MacNichols said.
Approving the permit could set a precedent for incongruent uses, he added.
“We are not at all assuming that you will have us back next year, but we will leave that park as nice as we found it,” Runge said.
Organizers agreed that the council’s approval would be on a trial basis with no promise of approval next year.
Money raised from the event supports Valley Animal Partners’ spay/neuter program, which subsidizes the procedures for low-income residents in Snoqualmie Valley.
“Our funds are getting really low and we need something bigger than a spaghetti dinner or dessert auction,” organizer Cathi Linden, who owns U Dirty Dog in North Bend, said.
Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
Comments
One Response to “Council green lights Doggiestock at Centennial Fields”
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
I would venture to say, that Doggie Stock will even be beneficial to some of our local mechants considering the beautiful location and so much to do there. Something people of all ages will enjoy, with much to do for those who choose not to spend the entire day at the festival. Don’t forget Sept. 18th….fun for all!