Dog owners and lovers celebrated recent improvements to the city’s dog park last week, changes several years in the making.
The City of Grand Forks hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the dog park on 18th Street on Thursday. The new changes included a huge expansion of the dog park, as well as a new shelter and fencing to divide the park into two sections.
Grand Forks mayor Frank Konrad welcomed people to the expanded park on Thursday, noting the hard work of the residents that went into the park.
“Great job to all that came out and made this a worthwhile cause, it will bring us many happy years to come,” Konrad said.
Edward Sims was one of the residents who put the hard work into making the park happen, and in his address at the opening on Thursday, said he was thrilled with the turnout.
“This has been eight years in the making, working with the city on expansion and shelter, Morrissey Creek and Interfor for materials, it is a real success, with all of you here today,” Sims said.
The original park was limited in size, although dog owners have appreciated the location, Sims said.
At Monday’s City of Grand Forks Committee of the Whole meeting, Sims and Kathy Novokshonoff, who was also involved in advocating for improvements to the dog park, gave a presentation to council about the expanded park and its impact on the community.
“The park is used regularly by a variety of dog owners, it helps to socialize the dogs so the dogs become good citizens,” Novokshonoff said.
According to Novokshonoff, citizens approached the city about expanding the dog park in 2016 and worked with corporate sponsors (Interfor and Morrissey Creek) to develop the shelter and the expanded area.
The new developments include the expansion, as well as fencing for two sections to help separate some of the dogs, and a shelter.
“We have a shelter. It is hot in the summer; the dogs like it and we don’t, and it is wet and cold in the winter,” she said. “There are many of us that spend the winter letting our dogs run so as not to trek through snow and ice.”
One of the best developments is the increases size of the park, giving the dogs more room to run and fetch.
The dog park is also set up with year-round running water and a portable washroom, as Novokshonoff said a significant number of seniors and kids use the park.
“Dog owners want to give a huge thanks to the city, its workers and all those involved in the project,” she said. “It is an amazing amount of work, looks so bright shiny and new … we cant say enough about how well it was done.”