The “dog days of summer” came a little early this year, as the city hosted “Paws in the Park,” Saturday at the dog park behind City Hall.

More than 100 folks and their furry friends turned out to the event – replete with a ribbon cutting – that served as an official grand opening of the park that was spearheaded by Vice Mayor Mike Chauncey.

“I think this is great,” said Robbie Cargile, who was there with his children and their rescue dog. “This is a lot of fun.”

The event featured crafters, vendors, community organizations, and food trucks.

Michelle Hobbs, a city parks and recreation employee, was in charge of the event. 

“What a great day Paws in the Park,” Hobbs wrote on her Facebook page. “It was a rain delay, but everyone had a blast. I’m so thankful for everyone who showed up! I hope you all made some new friends! Thank you thank you thank you!”

Years ago, during Lambert administration community meetings, a dog park for residents and their K-9 family members was identified as one of the most desirable recreational features the city could build. Efforts to identify a site – a corner of Camp Jordan Park and the flood-prone Springvale Park area to name a few – came and went.

More than a year ago, Chauncey helped secure a $25,000 grant from the Boyd Foundation which got the ball rolling to build the park. City leaders finally decided that a small field directly behind City Hall could work for a convenient location for the new park.

Fencing for the roughly half-acre site was donated by a local vendor. Benches and other amenities were donated by private individuals, including Mayor Brian Williams and his wife Shelley.

A small amount of taxpayer money was spent to acquire features for the dogs in which to play inside the dog park.