Burnsville's beloved Alimagnet Dog Park gets some much-needed TLC this week. The City's Forestry and Parks teams are rolling up their sleeves to improve the park for both its human and canine visitors. According to the city's announcement, the park will be undergoing maintenance on Tuesday, June 24th, and Wednesday, June 25th, and will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days.
Crews will be working on removing trees that have given up the ghost and pruning others to ensure that they don’t suddenly decide to do a timber impression on an unsuspecting person or pup. In addition, they will grind down the stumps along the paths so visitors won't have to navigate an accidental obstacle course. It's all to improve the park’s safety and accessibility. The repurposed wood chips—a byproduct of the park's timber—are going to freshen up the areas that have seen better days.
But it’s not just about the now. The park’s future is also being considered. Some trees in the park have been adorned with green ribbons—these are not early Christmas decorations but instead a signal. They mark the healthy ash trees that are slated to be treated later in the summer as part of a proactive measure to protect them from disease. This is intended to keep the park green and the shade ample for years to come.
Park officials have asked for the public's patience and understanding during the closure. "Thanks for your patience and understanding as we work to keep the park safe, shady, and paw-sitively enjoyable for you and your pup," the statement read. So, while it may inconvenience some to have to temporarily redirect their daily doggie excursions, the short-term pain promises to bring long-term gains in the form of a spruced-up park.
