'A dog district': Project leaders share plans for Downtown Dog Park, adjacent brewery

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County is down one play spot for pups after the closure of Runway Dog Park earlier this week, but the city could gain a new dog park by next year.

A project is planned for the Third Ward, giving downtown dogs a new place to play.

Fromm was announced Thursday as the title sponsor of the Downtown Dog Park project, proposed near St. Paul and Plankinton.

"This is going to be a really interesting intersection in the next year or two," said project leader Paul Schwartz, the executive director of the Milwaukee Public Market.

The proposed site under 794 near the river has been vacant for decades.

"We walk here all the time, so if we had a place that was fenced downtown, we'd love that," said resident and dog owner, Ted McClain.

With nearby public lots and high foot-traffic, parking isn't a concern for the project leaders, as they expect the park to be a walkable destination.

"The greater downtown Third Ward is a fairly significant walking community, especially for the people who are going to use this dog park, those who live in the condos around here," Schwartz said.

If approved, the space would be the nearest dog park to downtown Milwaukee. Right now, the closest is in Bay View, about three miles away.

"You want to get something that's centrally located, that also improves an area," Schwartz said.

Adjacent to the dog park, Foxtown Brewing out of Mequon plans to open a site with a restaurant, brewery, taproom and distillery.

"A lot of research that we've done about successful operations for dog parks around the country, a lot of them have a brewery competent, or a beer or drinking component next to it," Shwartz explained.

The goal is to make the development a destination for dog owners.

"It kind of creates more of a district, a dog district, if you will," Schwartz said. "People aren't just taking their dogs to go to the bathroom and then walking home, they can actually come down here, listen to some live music on a patio and drink a beer."

The project leaders noted that with growing dog ownership in the city, there's a demand for more dog-friendly spots.

"A lot of younger people treat their pets as their kids, and so they're just bringing them everywhere," said dog owner and resident, Alexis Villareal.

Money for the park is made through fundraising and sponsorships.

Once the budget is finalized and the project is approved by the city, the project leaders hope to break ground by next year.