By Mia Simpson, AlbertLeaTribune.com

AUSTIN &8212; After months of community negotiations, a local dog park got the go ahead from the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, which will coordinate its assembly soon at an industial park east of the Hormel Institute.

&8220;The plan is a go-ahead,&8221; Park and Rec Director Dennis Maschka said.

&8220;I would hope by the first of August it would be completed, but I can&8217;t guarantee that,&8221; he said.

The issue of a dog park has been in front of Albert Lea officials. Funding has been an issue.

Only a handful of people in Austin watched the vote from the board, which considered two sites before unanimously approving the industrial location, called Austin Industrial Park Northeast located off 16th Avenue Northeast.

The second spot, near Seven Springs Addition, was discarded because of lack of parking, limited space and severe flooding.

&8220;That industrial site seems almost perfect,&8221; board member Gretchen Remlo said. The site includes a fire hydrant, retention pond and is nearby a walking trail and parking lot.

&8220;I would have to say that&8217;s pretty good,&8221; said local citizen Chico Lilly, who attended with his wife, Holly.

With petition in hand, dog park advocates approached the Park and Rec board in August 2007, about five years after the issue fizzled out following a similar effort in 2002.

This time, the board was amenable, agreeing to invest $10,000 in the park and investigate locations with community members.

Wildwood Park, off 16th Avenue and First Street, emerged as a favorite because of severe flooding that had led to the removal of nearby homes and park&8217;s amentities.

Board members and proponents also felt there was enough room to accommodate a two-section area for dogs.

But neighborhood residents protested, submitting their own petition to the Austin City Council in December. They argued that the park put neighborhood children at risk, may pose noise and traffic issues and would likely require reconstruction because of persistant flooding.

&8220;We&8217;re not opposed to a dog park in concept, but we think there&8217;s a better site,&8221; Marian Clennon, of Third Street Northeast, said at the council meeting.

So the Park and Rec board reconsidered options, such as Rotary Centennial Park, off Eighth Avenue Southeast and South Main Street; the Cook Farms Industrial site off Highway 218 North; and other park areas.

Maschka announced these last two during the board meeting Wednesday, and after short discussion, board members and citizens endorsed the industrial site.

&8220;We&8217;ll try to get at it,&8221; Maschka said of the project, which will included fencing around three acres of land, and some concrete work. He also called on advocates to help.