About the Quickpaws Arena
- The Quickpaws K9 Sports arena is a dogs-only facility: of course, people get to play, too!
- Arena dimensions are 80 x 200 feet, with an 80 x 110 competition and training area. Floor to truss height is 16 feet.
- Benching, staging, and admin occupy an 80 x 60 area.
- Equipment and facilities occupy the remaining 80 x 30 area.
- Competition surface (footing) is a mix organic soil and angulated washed sand.
- The arena will be heated.
- Lighting in the competition area is shadow-free LED
- Restroom facilities will be of the outside porta-style.
- There is ample parking for cars, RVs, and campers. Limited 110 VAC power is available.
The address of the arena is:
265 Haskill Crossing Road, Whitefish, MT 59937 (note: this is NOT a mailing address).
The arena is located on 10 densely-wooded acres in Haskill Basin, 3.4 miles east of downtown Whitefish.
Some of the Steps Along the Way
Here are some of the steps along the way. We’ll try to fill the steps in just for sake of interest, but for the moment we’re just enjoying having it done!
Before the Project Begins: Center of Property and Center of Clearing Where Arena Will be Constructed
The video begins looking due north to where the arena will be (125 feet to the north of this point) and then rotates clockwise 360 degrees.
The Project Starts: The first tree comes down at what will be the entry road
Opening the Clearing: Another look from center after initial clearing
The trees in the area where the arena will be have been partially cleared. A lot of brush and bushes still exist. It was much denser than the loggers thought!
Lots of Tree Stumps: Clearing proceeds with removal of tree stumps
There were many tree stumps that had to be removed. Quite a few trees were knocked down without having to cut them, but for those that were cut, the stumps had to come out.
Progress: Things are shaping up, and a really big burn-pile is being created from all of the foliage taken out.
A lot of the spruce and cedar trees that were taken down were hauled away to the lumber mill for processing, but there is a lot more that can’t be used. So, a massive burn-pile is on the way to becoming even more massive!
The Burn Pile is Torched: Burning of the pile begins
Clearing is Done: The clearing is complete, and now the edge cleaning and site prep begins
The clearing will get a bit larger when the site is surveyed prior to site prep beginning, but it’s a far cry from the dense forest at the beginning! Note how well the burn pile burned.
Site Prep Begins: The big equipment is on site, and things are moving into high gear
Now, it’s getting the building pad area, parking lot, and road built. Lot’s of surprises happen in this phase!
At the end of the first day, the crew had done a lot!
Preliminary Prep Done: Time to build the road
With the preliminary prep done, now it’s time to build the road to the pad so the big trucks can bring in the arena fill material and the parking lot material. Early Saturday morning, and somewhat befitting a local dog would be barking! No doubt having not the slightest clue as to what is going up down the road!
The Road Work Begins: Building the road from Haskill Crossing into the arena begins
Prepping the Pad for Material: Getting the pad ready for the sandy loam base
The arena will be raised about 6 inches above the surrounding soil, so the arena pad is being leveled in preparation for the sandy loam fill soil to be brought in
In Comes the Fill Material: Lots of activity as the fill material is brought in and …
We’re racing against the weather to get the fill material brought in a spread before the rain hits!
They Beat the Weather!
The arena material was all brought in and initially spread out with a dozer before the rain hit the night before. Now, it’s looking like a week of rain, and that is going to slow things down in a big way!
Ready for the Building Crew
Site prep is done and just about ready for the building crew to arrive. The winter conditions, including rain, snow, and sub-freezing temperatures, have created a bit of a challenge. All that’s left is to do a final grade on the pad. Construction crews are scheduled to arrive on the 26th of November. The contractor is throwing two crews at the project in hopes of beating the heavier snows that usually occur around about the first of December.
It’s Up and Being Prepared for the July 2019 Trial! We are seeing the light!