Heritage Dog Park is opening the gate to all dogs and their owners and removing the once-required membership.
Though part of the funds raised through the previously required $50 application and proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccination went to McKamey Animal Center, the system proved to be more of a headache than a help, said Executive Director Jamie McAloon.
"It was quite a burden to sell those passes," she said. " It was just too taxing on our staff."
McAloon said the park's total revenue each year was approximately $12,000, with $6,000 going to McKamey. But with the manpower needed to handle calls about park issues - which many people don't realize are actually handled by the city's park services - and other logistics, the nonprofit shelter actually lost money in the process.
"That didn't even pay for all the time and resources needed," she said.
Additionally, the electronic entry gate was twice struck by lightning, which created further expenses for city park staff to repair.
And, said McKamey Director of Administration, HR and Facilities Paula Hurn, other dog parks across the city do not require a membership.
"No other parks in the city were required to have memberships," she said. "Other pet-friendly parks are free and open to community residents."
Hurn said all the parties involved with the off-leash dog park at Heritage agreed it was best to remove the fee.
The opening of the park to the public should not lead to any other changes, assured Craig Downs, coordinator of Bark in the Park, an annual event which has raised money for the Heritage dog park since 2009. The event, held in conjunction with the Friends of East Brainerd, will still take place each year to raise funds for continued improvements to the dog park.
"We will still do things for the park, like the shade structures we've planned to put in for people and handicap access," he said.