Centennial Dog Park — Attraction in Billings

One of my dog & I's favorite Billings dog parks. Lots of space to run with her tongue hanging out & her tail just wagging away. Some cool features. Benches here & there. 2 covered areas with benches also. Big dog area & separate fenced small dog area, plus another fenced area for training, or new introductions for pups or newbies to start in. Big & small areas have dog water fountains.... which are not turned on Oct. - May to prevent freezing, I believe. So bring a jug & dish in those months. Trail throughout is wood chips. Improvements are nice with new trees planted. Could use a few more benches, in all three pens... Would be great if traing obstacle course was set up in there.... also if the deep low area at West end of Big pen was turned into water feature (Like Bozemans 13 acre dog park).... rubber speed bump at back double gate on Northside of Big pen, I think would be great also, too much space under that gate makes my dog want to dig out under it. Otherwise.... already a very beautiful, lovely, gated dog park. Other features outside dog park, are baseball fields, large grassy areas, & also nice parking lot off 32nd...

Notice that this area is being reviewed as a "Dog Park". The City Council approved Master Plan was for a COMMUNITY PARK. with playgrounds for CHILDREN, picnic areas for FAMILY, flowers and benches for everyone, exercise areas, something for everyone, and including dogs.

But the Parks Board, under the dictatorships of Rick Devore and Tom Rupsis, forced a design very opposite the approved Master Plan and the results of City-funded survey of tax-paying residents. The City Council and Mayor just sat on their hands, typical of the political cronyism.

Tom Rupsis even told the City Council that no more taxpayer money would be needed for Centennial Park. That was a completely, obviously, almost sadly laughable statement.

Now the City wants, and NEEDS, to spend $10 million on Centennial Park. That amount might have been approved by taxpayers, but the Mayor and some Council got greedy and tried to force a $110 million ice rink to be included. The total was then...

This place could be awesome…but it’s just average. Someone had a good idea but hasn’t followed through fully. There was dog poop on the sidewalk approaching the gates (seriously who “didn’t see” there dog squat here?), and I stepped in poo inside within 2 minutes. Ugh. There are several benches, some in shade, some not. There is a walking path but the mulch needs serious attention. There are no poo bags, just a community gathering of grocery bags being recycled—so maybe, maybe not. The grass is beautifully green outside the fence but evidently not as well maintained inside. There is parking shared with the baseball fields, so it may be busy during b’ball season, plus there’s residential street parking by the other “big dog” entrance. The best thing going for this park is how...