MARIETTA - Construction is back under way at the Marietta Community Dog Park.
Though the June storms and hot summer temperatures stalled the progress of fencing and other improvements, project organizer Teresa Hayes in confident that the park is back on schedule.
"We hope to have this open and completed by the end of the month," Hayes said Friday as she surveyed the park's progress.
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Photo by Jasmine Rogers
Marietta Community Dog Park organizer Teresa Hayes points out where the double-gated entrance area will be built. The dog park, which has been an idea in the making for nearly four years, is expected to be open by the end of the month.
The two-acre area, located in Jackson Hill Park just off Cisler Drive, is encircled by fence posts. Many are firmly planted in the ground, but others have proven difficult to install, said Hayes.
"This whole park was built on fill so we have run into a lot of stuff digging these holes," said Hayes.
The project volunteers have run into everything from bricks to metal to limestone while digging holes. Using a jackhammer, volunteers from the Lowe's Heroes program and other workers have been diligently excavating holes for the last hold-out fence posts.
"We try to help in any way we can with a project in to better the community," Lowe's human resources manager Julian Stryker explained of the program.
The Lowe's Heroes volunteers have been a big help, said Hayes. She is currently looking for other community service groups that would like to adopt various projects around the park.
There are benches to install, fencing to stretch and debris to clear. Additionally, Hayes is hoping to find someone who could bulldoze and level some of the gravel areas at the park.
"We're continuing work next week. We can never have too many volunteers," said Hayes.
For the park opening, the entire fence will be in place and lined with a metal non-climb fence that keeps dogs safely inside the perimeter. But even after the dog park opens, improvements will still be in the works and revitalization work will continue inside Jackson Hill Park.
"The Plumbers and Pipefitters are hoping to have apprentices install fountains," said Hayes of one future improvement.
Until that happens, owners will need to remember to bring water for their dogs, she said.
The pavilion area beside the park is another area Hayes hopes to update. She is still looking for donations to fund some structural work that needs to be done there.
"We hope once the dog park opens, people will come up here and see what a beautiful green space this is and see the potential for other improvements," she said.
The Marietta Community Dog Park has been in the works for almost four years. The project got a big boost last fall when Marietta City Council approved the use of Jackson Hill Park for the space. Since that time, lots of work has gone into securing funds and manpower to get the park ready.
"This has been a long time coming, and we have had a lot of obstacles to overcome," said Hayes.
Dog owners are advised to keep their dogs out of the park until it officially opens because of construction work and the possibility that herbicides or lime will be used on the grass, said Hayes.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Hayes at mariettacommunitydogpark@yahoo.com or at (740) 350-6249. The Marietta Community Dog Park is also on Facebook and the Web at www.mariettacommunitydogpark.com.
