New Central Park dog area beginning to take shape
Lost But Loved Animal Rescue's plans for a new dog park are beginning to take shape with the completion of its scheduled Phase II work. Supporters of the project are currently eyeing an opening date of sometime in the spring.
According to Linda Cherry of the LBL Animal Rescue, once the weather cooperated, the city graded and leveled the site of the dog park which is located behind the ball fields at the Central Park, just west of the old courthouse.
“We have always wanted to build a dog park, but the biggest expense was in purchasing land,” she said. “So, we decided to approach Director of Parks Matt Martin and explain that if he would set aside an area of land in the park that we could use, LBL would raise the funds. And we stipulated that we would not ask the city (and) county for funds.”
Cherry noted that when the grading and leveling work was completed, Murray-Calloway County Economic Development Corp. President Mark Manning with the EDC supplied 10 truckloads of top soil. “Again, with the weather's cooperation, Ben Wright of Rightway Nursery donated and planted a dozen 15-foot-tall oak and maple trees throughout the dog park area. Rightway Nursery will design and donate a landscape of shrubbery and possibly large boulders as part of Phase III,” Cherry said.
Landscaping dog parks is not new to Wright who is an avid dog lover. He has participated in landscaping a new dog park in northern Kentucky. When Lost But Loved approached him to request a price list for his trees, he graciously volunteered to donate all of the landscaping and labor upon learning that Lost But Loved was trying to raise funds to build and landscape the new dog park, she added.
Cherry said everyone she has talked with has been very excited about the creation of the dog park. “A large number of people live in apartments with no fenced in backyards, or they rent and have no fenced in areas. This will be a place for people to take their dogs and play and interact with them,” she remarked.
Once dogs are inside the dog park, they can be taken off their leashes. “This dog park, when completed, will be the first dog park in western Kentucky. With its landscaping, it will be a park to be proud of, and one that dog lovers can use for years to come.”
She said LBL wanted to acknowledge the confidence and trust that dog lovers of Calloway County have placed in them. “We are very grateful for their trust to complete this project,” she added.
Cherry said other individuals have also stepped forward to help with the completion of the dog park. Robbie Stephenson, a Life Scout working on his Eagle Scout badge from Troop 112, and son of Peggy and Kerry Stephenson, will design and build a dog agility course which will be located inside the dog park. Pam and Ricky Atkins are donating the lumber needed to construct the roof of a 20-foot diameter gazebo which is located just inside of the entrance to the dog park, and park benches, donated by Kroger, will be placed in the gazebo so dog owners can sit as they watch their dogs play.
The Murray-Calloway County Parks and Recreation Department will also provide a combination doggie-and-people water fountain, according to Martin. Also included will be a small fenced area that can be used by very small dogs and their owners.
For complete story, see Saturday's Ledger & Times
Story created Nov 28, 2008 - 22:34:27 EST.
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