Leawood’s only dog park will soon have increased walkability.

The Leawood City Council this week formally accepted a $50,000 donation toward a new walking path at the central city dog park.

The trail will circle the dog park

• Assistant Parks and Recreation director Brian Anderson said the paved trail will circle the perimeter of the park, inside the wooden fence.
• It will be six feet wide and connect to the existing Leawood City Park trail to form a loop.
• Walkers could access the trail — and the dog park — just east of City Park at 106th Street and Lee Boulevard.

A former City Council member made the donation

• Former councilmember Lou Rasmussen and his son Kurt Rasmussen each made a donation of $25,000, for a total of $50,000.
• Lou Rasmussen served Ward 2 in Leawood for 26 years before stepping down in 2016 to move to Olathe.
• Mayor Peggy Dunn recalled that during his time on the city council, Rasmussen enjoyed the dog park as a frequent visitor with his own dog.
• He also helped with the design of the dog park as a liaison to the city’s park advisory board before the park opened in 2014.

The trail will open next year

• City staff estimated construction could finish on the trail by early July, pending weather.
• The city will bid the project in early 2024 and build it in one or two phases.
• In total, city staff estimated the project will cost between $60,000 and $70,000— funded by the donation and the city’s park maintenance operating budget.

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