Park Board designates land for first dog park in the area

Huntington residents will soon have a free, outdoor park where their dogs can exercise and socialize.

The Park Board of the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District has designated 3.3 acres of land to become Huntington's first dog park. The land, which sits behind the tennis courts at Ritter Park and is known as the "Lion's Den," is scheduled to be ready for play time as early as this spring, said volunteer Buck Crews at Monday night's meeting.

The project is organized through the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, an organization that raises and distributes money for charitable, educational and scientific purposes.

Mary Witten Wiseman, the foundation's president, said the next step toward completion is to raise $133,000 in private donations, a task she says is not as difficult as it sounds.

 "We worked with the league and the park board on the new playground [at Ritter Park] and we raised over $400,000, of which about $130,000 was private donations," Wiseman said.

The organization will send requests for donations after brochures are printed, which should happen within the next week. They used the meeting time primarily to assign people to distribute posters to local veterinarians and to establish a system to mail donation requests.

Crews said there are 200 prospected donors, but he is looking for people who can make substantial donations. So far, they have mostly received checks less than $100.

"At least people are starting to send in," Wiseman said.

Andrew Scottsdale, an Arizona resident who spends his summers in Huntington, is thrilled at the prospect of a dog park in Huntington.

"I come here for about four months every summer, and in Arizona I take my dogs to the dog parks every night," he said. "I've seen what a benefit a dog park really is."

Alan Morrison, vice president of the Park Board, has three dogs, which he said convinced him of the need for the park. Crews said Morrison was one of the key players in getting the Lion's Den designated for the cause.

Morrison said the park is really for the dog owners more than anything else.

"I think it is a great thing for dog owners to go and let their dogs run free and not on a leash," Wiseman said. "It's really good for dogs to be socialized, not only with people, but with other dogs."

She also said dog parks make great family outings.

There will be awareness events and distributions throughout the next few months with the fundraising deadline being Dec. 31. The main event will be a dog walk in Ritter Park on Oct. 30.

"I see a whole lot of dogs dressed up for Halloween coming to the park at nine in the morning to participate in this event," Crews said. He said there will be dog costume contests, look alike contests and treats, with refreshments and t-shirts for their owners.

Amanda White can be contacted at white461@live.marshall.edu.