COOLIDGE, AZ — The Coolidge City Council on June 8, 2026 approved a $274,375.22 agreement with Skyline Builders and Restoration Inc to build the new Coolidge dog park at the Regional Park. The Regional Park itself is still under construction, with initial grading completed earlier this year. The project will create three fenced dog areas with irrigation. According to the staff report, the approval puts the city in a position to open the dog park to the community. However, no opening date was announced at the meeting.
Funding comes from a $187,167 grant awarded by the Gila River Indian Community and $87,208.22 in development impact fees, which are one-time charges paid by developers to fund infrastructure needed for new growth. As a result, staff said, no general fund or capital improvement money is being spent on the project at this time.
Coolidge Dog Park Location in the Regional Park
The dog park will sit just southwest of the roundabout on the main road through the Regional Park. The park is being developed on an 80-acre site at the southeast corner of Coolidge Avenue and Skousen Road. Excluding an existing archery range and a commercial parcel, staff has estimated the park itself at roughly 66 acres. According to the master plan, the dog park will feature three pods for large and small dogs, with one closed at any given time for turf repair and aeration so the grass can regrow.
Councilmember Tom Bagnall asked about access, noting there are no curb cuts at the site yet. Staff responded that the road is currently surfaced with millings, and the city will eventually add asphalt, curbs, and sidewalks as part of completing the entire project. In the meantime, staff said, the dog park could be installed and used before those road improvements go in.
Project Costs and Funding
The $274,375.22 total combines two proposals from the contractor. The first, for $180,293.93, covers concrete curb, six-foot chain link fencing, 12 single gates, and three double gates around the three dog areas. The second, for $94,081.29, covers irrigation, including nearly 2,800 feet of PVC pipe, 135 sprinkler heads, and valves. The contract is an initial construction package, not the full buildout; other planned dog park amenities are not included.
Bagnall asked why the total exceeds the amount budgeted when the city applied for the grant. Staff explained that the grant amount came straight from the dog park’s cost in the park design. However, that figure left out some irrigation infrastructure, which the design budgeted under a separate item not specific to the dog park. Bringing in that irrigation is now part of this contract, and prices have also risen since the design was completed.
Staff also gave a ballpark estimate of $40,000 to $50,000 for benches, grass, and small shade structures in each dog area, and said that figure was deliberately on the high side. Those items would also come from impact fees until that funding source is exhausted.
The city currently holds $212,000 in impact fees. After this project’s share and another $48,680 requested for a walking trail project, the remaining balance would be $76,112.
Seeded Grass Instead of Sod
Rather than installing sod, parks staff will fertilize and seed the dog areas to grow grass. Staff said there is no reason to spend tens of thousands of dollars on sod that dogs would tear up.
Dog Safety and Required Signage
Bagnall raised concerns about liability if dogs fight and a person is bitten while intervening. In response, staff confirmed that warning signage will be posted before the dog park opens. The signs will tell visitors they use the park at their own risk. Staff said the language is fairly uniform and pointed to the dog parks in Casa Grande and Queen Creek as examples.
Benches, Lights, and Shade Still to Come
With the contract approved, staff said the city is positioned to open the Coolidge dog park to the community. The city also plans to use impact fees in the near future for lights and additional shade structures, which were held out of this contract because staff believes contracting them separately will get a better deal.
