Dog park to reopen in Washougal Jan. 2

Dog owners who have driven outside the Camas-Washougal area to take their canines to off-leash areas in Vancouver and elsewhere in Clark County could be relieved to know a local dog park will reopen soon, albeit temporarily.

Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington has negotiated with East Village Investors LLC, to reopen the Donald and Angeline Stevenson Off Leash Area from Monday, Jan. 2, until Friday, April 28.

The off leash area, next to Bi-Mart, at 3003 Addy St., closed Oct. 31, 2016.

“It is still fenced,” said Mark Watson, a DOGPAW board member in charge of park maintenance and development. “Nothing has changed at the park.”

East Village Investors LLC is marketing 15.97 acres, including the 6.4-acre off leash area, for sale or lease. It is zoned by Washougal, as Town Center East Village.

The district is envisioned to have a mixture of higher density housing and retail contained within low-rise buildings. Lone Wolf Investment LLC is the governing member of East Village Investors LLC.

Wes Hickey, owner of Lone Wolf, has said the sale or lease of the off-leash area and surrounding land could create employment opportunities for up to 1,200 people in the long term. East Village Investors purchased the land from DM Stevenson Ranch for $7.08 million, in December 2012.

DOGPAW is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

“If you love dog parks and would like to see them grow and thrive in our community, visit Clarkdogpaw.org to volunteer or become a DOGPAW sponsoring member,” Watson said. “DOGPAW and the Clark County dog parks they care for are completely funded by our community.”

Questions about the organization can be directed to Watson, at 896-4341 or mwatson676@yahoo.com.