STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-April 1, 2021-Newly formed nonprofit, Steamboat Cares 4 Cats, has its eyes set on a new amenity for the Steamboat Springs community - the first public Cat Park in the United States.
“It just seemed that our community was missing something we couldn’t catch,” meowed Parks & Recreation Director Angela Cosby. “Our vibrant and active residents have long awaited the opportunity to recreate and exercise with their beloved felines and we’re landing on all fours with our full support.”
While the exact location is still to be determined, the facility, which features various sized scratching posts and pads, a large catio and plenty of nooks and crannies, allows cats and their owners a place to socialize with others. Something their four-legged counterparts have enjoyed for years in Dog Town, U.S.A. The group promises that there are no strings attached to the plan and welcomes support from all animal lovers and local organizations because herding cats isn’t hard enough.
The new cat park will be dedicated to long-time Parks & Recreation employee Ernie Jenkins, who will be retiring this summer after 27 years of service to the city. Jenkins has been instrumental in providing a place for recreation across our community and feels his work will be complete when he scratches this park off his long list of accomplishments.
“Since he’s spent most of his nine lives with the city, it’s only fitting that the park will carry Ernie’s name,” purred City Manager Gary Suiter. “I thought this is a paw-some idea when first approached by the group and a purr-fect tribute to a long-standing employee who’s done so much for our beloved creatures.”
Leash laws will apply in the new park and all cats will need to display their license on their collar. Unlike the area’s dog parks, the cat park will be open at night to permit nocturnal fun. The park will feature amenities for all types from barn cats to house cats to stray cats and all felines in between.
To show the group is not mousing around, an endowment fund has been set up and is currently accepting donations and catnip. Additional details and park plans can be found on the city’s website at steamboatsprings.net/clawpark.
“There’s a fur-midable amount of work be done before the first paw touches the ground,” incessantly howled Recreation Manager Alexis Wolf. “However, we are ready to sink our claws into the project before someone else tries to copycat our idea.”
-AprilFoolsDay-
Contact
Angela Cosby, Parks & Recreation Director, 970.879.4300 or email
Craig Robinson, Parks, Open Space & Trails Manager, 970.871.7034 or email
Ernie Jenkins, Parks Supervisor, 970.871.7025 or email