Dog-bury: Canines enjoy their new city park
Published 12:05 am Sunday, October 21, 2018
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Though it was raining, dogs and the humans they came with got into the socializing spirit of the Dog Paws Dog Park quickly Saturday morning.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Councilwoman Karen Alexander left, and her dog visited Saturday morning's opening of the Dog Paws Dog Park. Theresa Pitner, right, is president of the non-profit group which has partnered with the city to make the dog park happen.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Jackson, was one tired but happy dog after playing in the dog park. Owner Wendy Guzman said, 'It's a good way to get to know other people and a way for dogs to interact.'
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Cinammon, left, and Lilo have a little meet-and-greet at the Dog Paws Dog Park Saturday morning.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post The city of Salisbury's new Dog Paws Dog Park covers about three-quarters of an acre, is divided into sides for small dogs and big dogs and encourages owners to unleash their dogs so they can run and socialize.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Patrick Coffey watches his black Labrador-Dane mix, center, play with other canines in the big-dog side of the new dog park.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Theresa Pitner, left, president of the non-profit Dog Parks and Walks, watches Cinnamon and Lilo socialize as Lilio's human, Heather Peeler, looks on.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Lucas Redmond pets one of Councilwoman Tamara Sheffield's huskies named Gypsy before Gypsy went for a romp Saturday morning in the city of Salisbury's new Dog Paws Dog Park.
Mark Wineka/Salisbury Post Councilwoman Tamara Sheffield takes photos as her huskies, Gypsy and Nirrti, socialize with a black Labrador-Dane mix named Jeb at the city's Dog Paws Dog Park Saturday morning,
By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — All around Salisbury, the drives across town were exciting, just anticipating going to a new place and meeting new friends.
And it seemed like their humans were excited, too.
Dogs and humans christened Salisbury’s newest dog park Saturday morning. Sure, it rained, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for a dog park that has been at least six years in the making.
“She’s double-coated,” Alma Marshall said of her dog, Abby. “She doesn’t know its raining. … She had a great time.”
Patrick Coffey watched proudly as his black Labrador-Dane mix, Jeb, frolicked off his leash with other big dogs inside the dog park’s fence.
“He had a blast,” Coffey said.
Located behind the Salisbury Civic Center at 315 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. S., the Dog Paws Dog Park covers about three-quarters of an acre. Some 980 feet of chain-link fence encapsulate the park, which is divided into two sides — one for small dogs, one for bigger breeds.
The idea is to close the entrance gate behind you and unleash your dog so it can run and maybe play and socialize with other dogs inside the same area.
“I’m always amazed,” said Stephen Brown, the city’s landscape architect and project manager for the dog park. “All these different dogs come together, and it’s like they’ve known each other for years.”
The Dog Paws Dog Park has been a citizen-funded and driven project with the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department providing the land, manpower and equipment.
“You can see we’ve been successful to this point,” Brown said.
The “Paws” name comes from the non-profit organization and task force (Dog Parks and Walks) which since 2012 has promoted the park’s establishment and raised money toward the first big need — fencing.
Theresa Pitner, a certified dog trainer, heads Dog PAWS, and she and Brown have been going to Salisbury City Council meetings and giving officials updates on the dog park’s progress for a good while.
“This is a wonderful day for me,” Pitner said, and City Parks and Recreation Director Nick Aceves agreed.
“Now she doesn’t have to sell hopes,” he said. “She can sell reality.”
Several City Council members, including Mayor Al Heggins, Mayor Pro Tem David Post and Councilwomen Tamara Sheffield and Karen Alexander, attended a brief ribbon-cutting for the dog park Saturday morning.
Sheffield and Alexander brought their dogs with them.
Heggins said her pug, Nola, is not a fan of the rain, but she predicted Nola will be a big fan of the dog park.
“She’s going to be out here soon,” Heggins said, “as soon as the rain stops.”
Heggins said a dog park is one of those things that goes a long way in showing people that Salisbury is a welcoming place. The dog park is just not a location for dogs to socialize, but it’s also a spot for people to do the same.
“It’s a good way to get to know other people and a way for dogs to interact,” said Wendy Guzman, who brought her dog, Jackson. “He loves dog parks.”
Rowan Animal Clinic also has a dog park next to its location off Statesville Boulevard.
“I want people to get together,” Pitner said, “and I want people to get their dogs out of their back yards.”
There remains plenty of money to raise and extra things to add to the city’s dog park.
Plans call for five dog waste stations, five trash cans, an entrance sign, brick pavers, seven shade trees, a water line, two drink fountains (with pet basins at the bottom), play equipment, plaques and an electronic gate system.
The entrance gates will eventually open with a card, meant to verify that an owner’s dog is up to date with its shots and is safe and healthy to interact with other dogs.
The Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department and Dog PAWS-Salisbury (Facebook) continue to accept donations for the dog park.
The Dog Paws Dog Park is open dawn to dusk as with other parks in the city system.
C.J. Peters and the Carolina Mudd Band performed at the dog park Saturday morning under the protection of a tent. Pitner saw the sunny side of things on the rainy day.
“Actually, this weather is good for dogs,” she said. “Not for people, but this is a dog’s day.”
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.
