December 13, 2005
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
738-2000
City celebrates opening of dog park
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian, Councilwoman Donna Travis, several police officers, residents and their pets celebrated the opening today of the city’s new dog park – the state’s largest – at a ribbon cutting ceremony in Warwick City Park. Helping to cut the ribbon were two of the nation’s most famous canines, Snoopy and McGruff the crime dog, courtesy of MetLife in Warwick and the Police Department, respectively.
The fenced-in facility is 33,000 square feet and features a spacious grassy area, a shady tree-filled section and several fire hydrants for the city’s four-legged residents. There is a small “holding area” adjacent to the main park gate, where residents can safely unleash and leash their dogs, as well as several benches and bleachers for pet owners to use while their pooches play.
The bulk of the project’s cost – less than $3,000 – was to purchase the fencing. City crews did the labor, and items such as bleachers and fire hydrants were surplus material from the departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation.
Residents who advocated for the dog park’s creation have agreed to regulations similar to those in place in other facilities, among them cleaning up after their own pets, regular cleaning and maintenance of the park and ensuring that no animal be allowed into the facility if it demonstrates rough or aggressive behavior.
In brief remarks, Avedisian thanked those who arranged for Snoopy and McGruff’s attendance at the festivities, praised city employees for their work to complete the park quickly and recognized the advocacy and dedication of the resident group.
“I’m very pleased we were able to get this project completed quickly so that we could present this early holiday gift to our residents,” he said.