The Arlington County Board on Saturday unanimously approved spending up to $1.7 million for extensive upgrades to a Lyon Village dog park.

Renovation to James Hunter Park, on the corner of North Herndon and 13th streets, should begin this summer. Plans call for a 1,200-square-foot plaza, a solar-powered water feature and irrigation system and a "pet comfort station."

"Just steps from the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, this park is going to be a small gem — offering great facilities built using sustainable materials and practices,” Chairwoman Mary Hynes said in a statement.

Construction should be complete by late next spring.

County staff have worked with various community groups on the project for about five years, according to a news release.

Arlington worked with Alfred State College in New York on the solar systems. A design firm has been retained to incorporate signs into the park as public art. During construction, temporary signs will be posted pointing people to other area dog parks.

The county expects the park's operating costs to be about $42,000 next year and about $46,000 the following year, the news release states.

The county board awarded the $1.46 million contract to the Springfield-based Avon Corp. for renovations and approved about $220,000 for contingencies.