Chattapets: Free dog park in Collegedale needs activity

The Collegedale Dog Park opened just over a year ago at the east end of Wolftever Greenway near the Nature Nook, but supporter LaDonna Kolling said not enough residents have made the discovery.

“Although we have visitors to the dog park, it is still too often that we take our furry friends to the dog park and end up being there alone,” she said.

Convenient for Collegedale, Ooltewah, Apison and East Brainerd residents, the park is open from dusk to dawn 365 days a year.

“The park is a free, off-leash fenced-in area that provides dogs of all sizes the opportunity to socialize and play with other dogs,” she said. “Additionally, it allows community members to meet one another.”

Amenities include plenty of shade trees, an open area to play fetch and a small pool for water dogs. A water spigot and bench donated by SouthEast Bank & Trust are also available.

“There is no membership or regulations on who can attend, so all well-mannered dogs are welcome from everywhere,” said Kolling, who worked with Tom Drake and the city of Collegedale to make the park a reality.

Dr. Brian Dickinson, a small-animal veterinarian in the Collegedale/Ooltewah area, said access to such a facility is good for canine companions.

“Well-exercised and socialized dogs are proven to be less likely to become neighborhood nuisances, bark excessively and destroy property,” he said in a news release.

For more information, visit www.collegedaledogpark.com.