Huntington’s Dog Park

Herald Dispatch: Celebration at Heritage Station

Buck Crews brought the Huntington Dog Park project to one of our “Chat-n-Chews” in 2009, and ended up gaining a few volunteers in the process. This volunteer group was determined to build a dog park in Huntington. After winning several local grants, including one from the Foundation for the Tristate, and lots of local fundraising, they had raised quite a bit of capital, but not enough. Then they found a huge opportunity to win $100,000 in the PetSafe “Bark For Your Park” competition. Signs were put of everywhere, videos were made, and even businesses put the Dog Park project on their signs. Everyone pitched in to spread the word to vote. Well, because of the active support of so many businesses, volunteers, and area organization, Huntington’s Dog Park won.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8/18/2011. Folks from PetSafe were in town to present the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District with the $100,000 check that they’d  won in the online “Bark for Your Park” contest. The money will be added to the $83,000 already raised. “What has been accomplished here is a small town, Huntington, 50,000 people going against cities all across the country, 500 cities across the country, some of them with populations of a million people. You took on all of those cities and not only did you compete, but you won. I think that is just an incredible inspiration, it is for me. It’s a dog park, but it is also a symbol of victory, a symbol of a town coming together”, said PetSafe representative Randy Boyd. (http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/124216589.html)

The dog park will be built on three acres in Ritter Park with separate areas for different size canines. The off-leash park is expected to be open next summer.

For more information, contact the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District.