The City Council voted earlier this week to approve a final design for an off-leash dog park at the Ron Woods Recreation Complex, which McGuire said "is sorely lacking in very, very greatly needed features."

Some of those amenities excluded from the $217,130 estimated budget are lighting, shaded benches and more paved walkways to allow handicapped access to restrooms and water fountains.

Salt Lake County allocated $400,000 to West Jordan for an off-leash dog park, and any remaining money could be used for other recreational purposes. McGuire, who owns two dogs, says the city is cutting corners on the dog park to fund a skate park.

"I truly believe that the only reason they are putting a penny into the dog park is to get to the rest of the money," he said.

But Mayor David B. Newton said a substantial amount of money is going into the dog park. He established a goal to keep the cost of the dog park below $200,000, he said, because initial estimates for a dog park were around $150,000.

"We don't need to throw money in just to throw money in," Newton said.

He added that many of those amenities are being investigated. The bids for the dog park also include several of those features - such as more paved walkways and a shaded shelter - but lighting is not included in those alternative features.

Once the numbers are in for the cost of those extra features, Newton said the decision whether to add walkways or shading could be made. But he would not say how much money he'd be willing to spend.

The city estimated that the extra amenities would cost an extra $115,764, bringing the total costs to $332,894.

"We are trying to look at it from a logical, business standpoint, and make this a park for the community that the citizens can use, but that won't break the bank," he said.

Newton said he wants to keep the costs down and do the best thing for the taxpayers by maximizing the uses for the county money.

Salt Lake County will make the final decision about the park. Once building estimates are in, the County Council will vote for or against its design.

McGuire said he doubts that any new features will be added to the design - or that the city be willing to spend more on the dog park to improve it for dog owners.

In the resolution the city approved for the dog-park design, extra amenities would be included, "if the base bid comes in low enough to allow them."

But if the design stays as is, with difficult accessibility for the elderly and handicapped, no lighting and few shaded areas, McGuire said, he is going to press the county to rescind its West Jordan allocation and "put it to cities that want to put dog parks in."

mvilllasenor@sltrib.com