Dog owners who want space for their pets to play off of their leashes are encouraged to attend a meeting about creating a dog park.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at City Hall, 333 Broadalbin St. S.E.

The plan for Thursday is to get ideas on design, location and how to pay for the project. The discussion also will include whether to have two areas set aside, one for small dogs and another for larger dogs. Volunteers are needed to join a committee to get the project moving.

A dog park would allow pets to run around and play with other dogs. The site could include obstacles and other amenities to encourage physical activity for both dogs and their owners, said parks Director Ed Hodney.

The dog park idea came up in 2006 during sessions held to draft a parks master plan. At that time, several people responded to a survey about what parks and recreation programs were needed in the future. After the idea came up, a number of other people said they, too, liked the idea of a place for dogs to run free and play.

Hodney thinks 1 to 2 acres would be the maximum amount of land needed for such a park, and says the property would be fenced.

Timber-Linn Memorial Park was named as one location in the master plan. Other parks might also be selected, including the proposed new community sports park in south Albany.

The cost of a dog park is difficult to estimate now, Hodney said. It depends on such things as how big it would be, what features would be installed, and whether there would be such things as lighting, benches, tables and drinking fountains. A must would be bag dispensers so pet owners could clean up after their dogs.

Park staff is in charge of Thursday’s meeting. Later, the city’s parks and recreation commission will weigh in on where to locate the dog park.

For more information, contact Hodney at 917-7769 or ed.hodney@cityofalbany.net.