MUSCATINE, Iowa – The community will gather in the main shelter of the Muscatine Dog Park Thursday, Nov. 1, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the facility to patrons. The ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m.
One of the most talked about projects for the past five years has been the creation of a Community Dog Park. The off-leash park is the first of its kind in Muscatine and is located off of Houser Street across from Kent Stein Park on 14 city owned acres adjacent to the Muscatine Pollinator Park.
Citizens for an Off-leash Muscatine Park (COMP4DOGS) worked with the City of Muscatine and the Community Improvement Action Team (CIAT) to develop and implement the project. The site features a half-acre senior dog area, a 1.5 acre area for small dogs, and a three acre enclosure for large dogs. The project was one of four projects that were part of The Pearls of Progress Project which successfully pursued and received a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant from the state of Iowa.
The Muscatine Community Dog Park had an estimated price tag of $243,081 which included development of the fenced areas, an entrance shelter, two water fountains, six benches, trees, a shed, and four shelters. Most of the funds were raised through private donations with part of the cost covered by the CAT grant and an allocation from the City of Muscatine.
While the park will not be officially open until Nov. 1, dog owners can visit and take tours of the site from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. COMP team members will be on hand during the morning to provide information, brochures, and permit registration forms. Also scheduled to be on hand will be a group of Boy Scouts who will be setting up the small shelters in the enclosures.
“We encourage people to come out, walk the park, and have a firsthand look at what the park offers,” Peggy Gordon, one of the leaders of COMP4DOGS. “You may bring your dog with you but they will have to remain on leash since the site is still a construction zone.”
The organization also plans to have a Field Day at the site with volunteers from COMP available to answer questions about the rules, permits, and dog park etiquette. The Field Day will be held at 10 a.m. -2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 11.
For more information, visit the Muscatine Dog Park page on the City of Muscatine web site.