Dog park to open June 2

FAIRBORN — Local dog owners will soon have a new area to take their furry friends to run, play and cool off.

The City of Fairborn’s much-anticipated dog park within Sandhill Park, 229 Sandhill Road, is slated to officially open to the public 6 p.m. Friday, June 2. Fairborn Parks and Recreation Superintendent Alicia Eckhart said the project was included in the park’s five year capital master plan, which was created in 2013. Dog park officials are currently seeking naming rights.

One end of Sandhill Park will remain the same, including playground equipment, a grassy area and shelter, but the other half has been under construction over the last few months as it will accommodate local canines of all sizes. The dog park is separated by a seven-foot high fence, which is divided in half to serve both large dogs and small dogs. The fence is buried one-foot underground.

The park currently includes a ditch to accommodate a water line to allow spray equipment, which is turned on by a button for eight seconds at a time, and continuously-filled water bowl to be installed. It will also include a shelter; both the shelter and spray ground will be accessible for both the large-dog area and small-dog area.

“The committee are very knowledgeable dog people,” Eckhart said. “They’ve been to many dog parks. They knew what they liked and what they didn’t like, so we worked through everyone’s knowledge and how we could put it together.”

The effort was led by a committee of five local dog-owning-and-loving Fairborn citizens, who have been meeting since October. Although the park will officially open in just more than a month, Eckhart doesn’t see the group dispersing anytime soon because they still have plans in the works. Eventually, dog park officials envision the area including an agility area.

“They want to raise funds for the agility course,” Eckhart said. “They’ve garnered the specks on that, fencing, equipment and everything else. They’re looking for another $25,000. I think that’s why they’ll continue raising money. And the [agility course] would be separated, it would not be inside the dog park because you can’t really do agility and train when other dogs are around.”

The other half of Sandhill Park will remain the same with the exception of a dead tree that is planned to be taken down. Park officials will also look into installing a permanent restroom facility in the coming years.

“It’s been nice to have the support of both the city and the citizens and the community to accomplish this,” Eckhart said.

Whitney Vickers | Greene County News Sandhill Park will soon welcome local canines and owners who seek to run, play and cool off in the warm months. Fencing is currently going up and it will officially welcome individuals and furry friends to enjoy as of its grand opening, slated for 6 p.m. Friday, June 2.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/05/web1_dogparkconstruct1.jpgWhitney Vickers | Greene County News Sandhill Park will soon welcome local canines and owners who seek to run, play and cool off in the warm months. Fencing is currently going up and it will officially welcome individuals and furry friends to enjoy as of its grand opening, slated for 6 p.m. Friday, June 2.

The dog park is divided by a seven-foot high fence into two section to accommodate large and small dogs. It also includes entrances to both sides from the outside, a handicap entrance and a “human” gate from within the fencing.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/05/web1_dogparkconstruct2.jpgThe dog park is divided by a seven-foot high fence into two section to accommodate large and small dogs. It also includes entrances to both sides from the outside, a handicap entrance and a “human” gate from within the fencing.

By Whitney Vickers

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Reach Whitney Vickers at 937-502-4532.

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