COLUSA, CA (MPG) – The desire of residents to have a dog park and pickleball courts in Colusa has taken a giant leap forward.
The City Council on Feb. 18 agreed to finance the fencing of the accessible area at City Hall on Fourth and Webster streets for an off-leash dog play area. The council postponed discussions on new pickleball courts until March 4 for more information.
A dog park was among the most requested park improvements when the Colusa City Council completed its 2007 Park Master plan.
“It seems like a small issue, but it’s been a hot topic for years,” said Councilman Greg Ponciano, who made the motion to approve up to $8,000 for the park.
While the City of Colusa Parks, Recreation and Tree Commission discussed the need for a dog park over the years, officials were unable to identify funding sources until Colusa voters approved Measure B in 2022, after which the Oversight Committee recommended 70 percent go to fund street repairs; 26-30 percent to fund recreation and parks, with 2 percent each to police services and fire safety as needed.
The city used $175,000 from Measure B and $125,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund new inclusive playground equipment at CD Semple Park in 2024.
City officials said they have invested little in park infrastructure in the past two decades due to the lack of funding sources. The city constructed a youth water park in 2023 using its $176,000 allocation from Proposition 68, a $1.4 billion bond approved by California voters in 2018 to fund parks, environmental projects, and water infrastructure throughout California, which had no cash match required from city coffers.
The City Council agreed to advance the cost for the approximately 6,500 square-ft dog park from General Fund reserves. Officials said repayment will come from 2025 Measure B park allocations.
“I really like the location and the idea of using some of this open land,” said Councilwoman Denise Conrado.
Cain said the estimated cost of the dog part does not include amenities, however the Rotary Club of Colusa, which installed the water station at the boat dock, has shown interest in funding a doggy water fountain. The expense requires approval from the Board of Directors, which has also shown interest in providing funding for tennis courts and pickleball.
In late 2024, the City of Colusa Parks, Recreation and Tree Commission also recommended having four pickleball courts installed at Sankey-Elmwood Park, following a public hearing that showed substantial interest from Colusa County residents who have taken up the activity for health and recreation.
“At that meeting, there was a lot of public support for the city to build pickleball courts,” said City Manager Jesse Cain. “There was a lot of discussion on how many and where they should be.”
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States because it is affordable, more sociable, and less strenuous as tennis, making it more accessible for people of all ages and abilities, city officials said.
Cain recommended building four courts at Fourth and Webster streets to attract tournament players, despite taking away soccer space.
Cain recommended the city construct the courts with the help of volunteer contractors and organizations that can provide expertise and manpower.
The estimated cost for in-house construction of basic courts is $125,000. According to Cain, this amount could be sourced from reserves and repaid through future Measure B park allocations.