Mayor Michael J. McGlynn is asking the Medford City Council to stop barking for a dog park and start fetching some cash to help the city fund one.

After pleading for a dog park during recent council meetings, members again asked McGlynn about a dog park during its June 10 budget hearing.

"The dog park, if you want to build it tomorrow, we can build it tomorrow," McGlynn said. "I�ll get the money, we�ll put a fence around an area. That isn�t the best way to build a dog park. Anybody�s who�s built a dog park, they�ll tell you that. What happens is, after a short period of time, there is no more grass and then it becomes a mud bowl."

McGlynn met May 21 with leaders from som|dog, a Somerville-based nonprofit that advocated for the three dog parks now open in the city, who told him one of the parks cost $500,000.

"I�m not advocating we spend $500,000," McGlynn told the council. "But in a good park, you�ll have a fence, you�ll have a double gate so your dog doesn�t take off, you�ll have pipes where dogs can run through them, exercise, jump over them. That�s the purpose of going to the dog park � not just to walk them."

Currently, Medford lacks a space where dogs can roam off-leash � in fact, dog owners are subject to a $200 fine if their dogs aren�t wearing a leash in a city park.

City Councilor Michael Marks invited dog owners to an April 29 council meeting to discuss the city�s need for a dog park. About 20 dog owners attended the meeting, saying they have to take their dogs to neighboring towns, such as Somerville, Arlington, Melrose and Malden.

Some said they meet other dog owners mornings and evenings at Morrison Park, where they let their dogs roam near and on the park�s tennis court � even though they know it�s against the city�s park regulations.

McGlynn seems aware of the need for a dog park, but not rushed to build one.

"It�s just about putting money together and then having the right location," he said, advising the council help raise money. "You have a lot of energy on this issue, a lot of people. Get involved, take care of the fundraiser."

As for the location, McGlynn said there is enough space and parking for a dog park near Hormel Stadium and also along the Mystic River, near the Condon Shell.

"Hormel seems to be the site everybody is happy with," said City Councilor Rick Caraviello.

Funding the park, though, doesn�t look like it will be as easy, though McGlynn said the city plans to continue the Doggy Fun Run & Walk that drew more than 250 dogs and 380 people last year � and that this year, all proceeds from the event would go to the city, presumably for the building of a dog park.

McGlynn said som|dog, which will run the event this year, expects the event to draw 1,000 participants.