After addressing issues of flooding and grass seed growth, the once-delayed Dearborn Dog Park is now nearing its grand opening.
On Saturday, Aug. 19, an 11 a.m. grand opening celebration will be held for Dearborn Dog Park. Located behind the Henry Ford Centennial Library, the dog park is two parks in one. A one-acre sized facility is located adjacent to a 0.25-acre facility, giving Dearborn dog owners and their pets options for recreation.
Among its amenities include drinking fountains, pet waste stations, fire hydrants, benches, and security cameras. The Oakwood Group donated $15,000 to Dearborn Dog Park, and that money was used to purchase agility equipment for both the large and small parks.
With a passion for animals, Mayor John O'Reilly was behind the push for the dog parks, says Michael Shooshanian, Recreation Supervisor of Dearborn Recreation Parks & Sports.
"There's a big social aspect to a dog park. It gives residents a place to get together with their dogs, have coffee, and meet new people," says Shooshanian. "It's a space where dogs can run off-leash, which is important for our residents who live in apartments or have small yards."
Following this year's Aug. 19 opening, the official dog park season will run from April 15 to Nov. 15 each year.
Dearborn Dog Park is open only to Dearborn residents and tags can be purchased at the City Clerk's office in the Dearborn Administrative Center. Tags purchased this year will also be valid for the 2018 season.
There are also sponsorship opportunities at the park. Businesses and organizations can help sponsor the park, which will place their banners and signs on fencing and plaques on the drinking fountains. Like the tags, sponsorships purchased this year will remain throughout the next year, as well.
For sponsorship inquiries, email Michael Shooshanian at
mshooshanian2@ci.dearborn.mi.us.
Dearborn Dog Park is located at 16301 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.
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