LAKEVIEW — The majority of voters in the 44th Ward, which largely encompasses Lakeview, think the neighborhood should get a new dog park.
A referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot asked voters in the ward whether they supported a new dog park for the neighborhood, and just over 80 percent of voters said “yes,” according to unofficial results from the Chicago Board of Elections.
The ballot referendum is non-binding, so the votes don’t mean that a dog park will be built. But the results can be used to show officials there’s support for the project.
Lakeview is already home to Wiggly Field, a dog park that covers a block of Wrightwood Avenue between Sheffield and Seminary avenues that was established in 1997, but a group of neighbors has been pushing for another dog park to open.
The Park District approved an application to explore the development of a fenced, off-leash dog park the size of two tennis courts in July 2019, according to the referendum. The park would be built where Briar Place runs into Lake Shore Drive, which is currently a grassy area by an on-ramp.
But the project has stalled due to a lack of support from elected officials, according to the Lakeview Dog Park group, a nonprofit that’s collected more than 5,000 signatures in support of the park.
Ald. Tom Tunney could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Read More: Should Lakeview Get Another Dog Park? Most Area Voters Say Yes