CABOT — A new dog park is in the works at the Cabot Parks and Recreation Department.
Travis Young, general director of Cabot Parks and Recreation, said the park will be at the Cabot Community Pond park near Kerr Station.
“There will be natural shade in the area provided by trees, and a pavilion that already exists will be just outside the dog park,” Young said.
“There will be separate fenced-in spaces for small and large dogs with a transition area in the middle,” Young explained. “You’ll walk into a double-gated transition area and go to either side.”
Young said residents have been asking for a dog park and that creating one is part of the Cabot Parks and Recreation Department’s master plan.
“Local residents have created a Cabot Dog Park Facebook page, and the creator of the page is a member of the Dog Park Committee,” he said.
Young said the dog park will include green space for dogs to play in, obstacles and elements for dogs, benches, fire hydrants and a water fountain for dogs.
“The park will be open from 8 a.m. until dark each day and may occasionally close for regular maintenance. We will try to take care of maintenance in the morning before we open, when we can,” he said.
“We receive funding from the Advertising and Promotion Commission. They funded $20,000 of it, but the final budget won’t be done until completion [of the park]. Materials are changing every day,” Young said.
“I spoke with the committee at the April Parks Commission meeting, and the committee will start reviewing rules for the park soon,” Young said.
“They’ve been putting stuff together, and we’re going to get it hammered out so I can get it approved at our May commission meeting,” he said.
Young said he plans to have the dog park open in early summer.
“The committee has been helping put the dog park together overall,” he said. “The park will be mainly for local residents and people who are passing by.”
Young said people traveling with animals are welcome to stop at the park.
“One of the things the committee will come up with is a remembrance program,” he said.
“It hasn’t been approved whether we can do a brick or bench program,” Young said.
“It’ll be a way to remember your pets. There will be some type of way for families who’ve lost pets to make a memorial,” he said.
“The grand opening is to be determined, but once we get closer and figure that out, we’ll have a grand opening with a ribbon cutting,” Young said.
Carole Ridgeway, a member of the Dog Park Committee, said the park is on the list of active major projects for the city of Cabot.
“The committee compiled a wish list and input on design elements, being realistic that some can happen now, and others may happen later,” Ridgeway explained.
“Simply as a citizen of Cabot, I started the Cabot Dog Park Facebook page independently, with no formal Parks and Recreation affiliation, almost two years ago,” Ridgeway said.
“Along the way, I have patiently, month after month, sat in attendance at Cabot Parks and Rec meetings waiting for the public input part of the meeting to speak up,” she said.
“While other pressing business items and other major projects that are so much more involved had to be completed or started, I have to say the entire Cabot Parks and Rec Commission, the Cabot City Council and the mayor have been very gracious and enthusiastic toward the request,” Ridgeway said.
“My Cabot Dog Park Facebook page has grown to over 1,100 likes in that time period, and the page get lots of great reactions, questions and feedback from the followers,” she said.
“Many think this will be a great addition to the community, and others think it is long overdue. I am hopeful the dog park will be so popular that we need to expand or build another,” Ridgeway said.
Stephanie Dewey, a resident of Cabot, said she’s excited about finally having a place bigger than her backyard to let her dogs run around.
“I’m excited, very much so. The kids are excited too,” Dewey said.
“It’s also in a convenient spot in town for us,” Dewey added.
“As someone who has taken the time to attend meetings, listen and learn the fine details regarding limited options, locations and funding, I would hope there is appreciation over criticism of the [park’s] humble beginnings,” Ridgeway said.
“The choice was to find a central spot the city already owned and that needed little development to get paws on the ground as early as possible, versus taking who knows how long to find preferred land and then raise huge funds to purchase the land and develop a giant, impressive dog park,” she said.
“The Cabot Dog Park is in its beginning phase and, over time, as funds are available will have plenty of opportunities to improve,” Ridgeway said.
“For the most part, a dog park is like any community park where common sense and individual responsibility will prevail,” Ridgeway added.
“The posted rules will be reminders of some of the specific responsibilities, such as the canine age, size, health and behavior, as well as matters of safety, children, food, cleanliness and hours of operation,” she said.
Staff writer Kayla Baugh can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or kbaugh@arkansasonline.com.