Fairmount Memorial Association, a Spokane nonprofit cemetery operator, says it plans to develop a private, membership-based off-leash dog park on property it owns on Government Way, near its Riverside Memorial Park.

Ultimately, the nonprofit also intends to develop a pet health and wellness complex named Pet Haven Park at the site, at 508 N. Government Way, says Laura Timmons, Fairmount Memorial's marketing director.

Fairmount noted its customers have expressed a desire to have services available for their pets, Timmins says.

"We focus on preplanning for families" for the burial of their loved ones, "and people are concerned about their pets," she says. "With space available here, we thought a pet park would be a good idea."

The nonprofit operates five cemeteries, including Fairmount Memorial Park, located at 5200 W. Wellesley; Greenwood Memorial Terrace, located on Government Way near Riverside Memorial Park; Riverside Memorial Park; Spokane Memorial Gardens, located at 5909 S. Cheney-Spokane Road; and Woodlawn Cemetery, located at 909 S. Thierman Road, Timmins says. In all, the association owns about 650 acres, about 300 acres of which aren't developed.

The new pet facility will be built in phases and ultimately will include the off-leash dog park open to people who would buy memberships on a quarterly, biannual, or annual basis; a doggie day care; and a pet funeral home that would handle pet cremations, Timmins says.

The project is being designed by Spokane architect Gary Saiki, who also is serving as general contractor for the $600,000 first phase. Subcontractors include LH Contracting LLC, of Spokane.

In the first phase, amenities will be constructed for a one-acre membership-only off-leash dog park and an 800-square-foot "pet pavilion," which will include space for dog training classes, pet birthday parties, and watering and washing stations for dogs, Timmins says. She was uncertain when work would start on the first phase, but says Fairmount hopes to open the park by mid-winter or early spring.

Fairmount plans to include play structures for pets and separated areas for large- and small-breed dogs. Members will pay for security-key access to the park, and it will be equipped with free Wi-Fi service.

In the second phase, a doggie day-care facility would be constructed, and in a third and final phase, the organization would build a pet funeral home.