VIENNA - Work on the dog park in Jackson Memorial Park has started with repurposing of old dugouts and other work by volunteers which began Saturday.
"We love the dog park at Mountwood Park and want something closer to home that people and their dogs don't have to drive so far to enjoy," said Miranda Haught, director of Mid-Ohio Valley Paws.
The not-for-profit group has been working with the Vienna City Council, Mayor David Nohe and parks director Norm Harris to get the off-leash dog park going.
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Photo by Jolene Craig
Miranda Haught, director of Mid-Ohio Valley Paws, left, and group volunteer Cassidy Hill pose in front of a dugout in Vienna’s Jackson Memorial Park Saturday before the group’s volunteers began working on the dog park.
"Everyone has been extremely supportive," Haught said. "It's really fantastic what they have done for us to help the dog park become real."
The first phase of the dog park consists of about 1.4 acres in Jackson Memorial Park near the maintenance garage that was once used as a T-ball field.
"This is phase one and if it is used and well-accepted by the community, we will move forward with phase two and possibly phase three," Haught said.
This first phase will be a park for dogs of all sizes and will consist of fencing, an entrance gate, water fountains, benches and grass.
"It will just be an area for dogs to run and play with each other and their people," Haught said.
The first area is expected to be finished and open to the public in a month or so.
"It's really coming along," Haught added. "It's actually moving a lot faster than we anticipated."
While the dog park will be used to allow dogs off-leash time to socialize and exercise, the second phase will be for small breed dogs to be able to run around without fear of the larger dogs. Phase three is planned to be an agility park in what is now an old and run-down tennis court.
"We have a lot of plans and just need the money and time to get them done," Haught said.
In October 2011, city council authorized city officials to look for an appropriate spot for a dog park inside the city limits with several locations in and around Jackson Park considered.
Founded in 2009, Mid-Ohio Valley Paws' main fundraiser is the annual Festival of Dogs pet pageant at City Park in October. Funds raised by the club go toward various animal causes as well as area humane societies.
