Some western Kenosha County residents are barking about the proposed location for a west-end dog park.

Twin Lakes resident Sharon McCormack presented a County Board panel Monday night with petitions bearing the signatures of 209 area residents who oppose the site of a 3.6-acre, off-leash dog play area immediately adjacent to Bassett Park on Highway F.

Instead, the signers would prefer to see the dog park located elsewhere within the 234-acre former gravel pit property a bit to the north, along Highway KD, that is being developed into a new county park.

McCormack told the Highway and Parks Committee she does not believe a dog park belongs next to a “people park” that is used frequently for softball games, church picnics and other activities.

“I just want them to know that we are not against the dog park, just the location of it,” said McCormack, who lives down the street from the site.

Committee members agreed to look into possible alternatives to the proposed site, though Supervisor Dennis Elverman warned that moving the dog area from a flat field along Highway F to a more rugged area to the north could come with a greater price tag.

Among McCormack’s concerns about the Bassett site is the waste that dogs produce and its potential to attract insects and contaminate food served at Bassett Park events.

Dog park proponent Bethany Wise, of Pleasant Prairie, said waste dog owners don’t remove will not be a problem.

“If you think there’s one group that will police themselves more strongly than dog owners, you’re mistaken,” Wise said.

The discussion occurred as the committee voted to accept Salem resident Mary Ellen Close’s donation of $12,500 to help build the dog area in honor of her 89-year-old father, Warren Close.

The committee also approved an agreement with Randall, wherein the county and town would share an entrance and parking area at Bassett Park. That deal still has to go through the Town Board.

Close’s contribution represents half of the $25,000 fundraising challenge the county put out to the community late last year. This year’s county budget calls for releasing $25,000 in non-levy dollars from the Pheasant Run landfill once that goal is met, then building permanent dog parks at the west-end site and at Petrifying Springs Park in Somers.

County officials are aiming to have both of the parks open this year.

Once that occurs, the county will look at making permanent a temporary dog area that opened late last year at Old Settlers Park in Paddock Lake, said Jon Rudie, general manager of park operations.

Simply building at Old Settlers instead of the Highway KD park site was discussed as a possibility Monday, but Close said she would prefer to see her donation go toward the Randall location.

“I’d hate to see them give up the KD park and say Old Settlers will do,” Close said. “We want three (dog parks).”