As part of an effort to make Tennessee the most pet-friendly state in the U.S., the dog park at Heritage Park in East Brainerd will soon see improvements, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Boyd Foundation Dog Park Dash grant program.
The Boyd Foundation was established by Randy Boyd, founder of the PetSafe brand of containment, training and lifestyle products for pet owners. The mission of the foundation’s Dog Park Dash grant program is to make Tennessee the most pet-friendly state in the U.S. by funding grants to establish or improve dog parks throughout the state in 2018 and beyond, according to a release.
The program received 50 applications from Tennessee towns and cities, and awarded 37 $25,000 grants and one $100,000 grand prize. Heritage Dog Park was the only project in Chattanooga submitted for consideration, said Rachel Worley, PR and marketing specialist for the grant program.
A four-legged guest attends the presentation of a $25,000 check from the Boyd Foundation Tennessee Dog Park Dash grant program which will be to be used to make improvements to Heritage Dog Park.Upgrades included in the park’s grant application are reseeding the grass, adding seating areas, installing water features, repairing damaged fencing, and constructing accessible paths to both of the separate areas intended for large and small dogs.
The application also indicated that a portion of the grant funds would be used to launch a dog park etiquette campaign involving social media, signage and possibly observation cameras to help ensure long-term maintenance of the park, said Worley.
Each application was scored based on need, impact and community support. The city of Chattanooga’s application for Heritage Dog Park cited the rapid and continuing growth in East Brainerd, showing that they did their research and were serious about their submission, Worley added.
“The Tennessee Dog Park Dash scoring team could easily see that improving this park would be very beneficial to the community for years to come,” she said.
Heritage Park encompasses 22 acres overall and serves more than 18,000 residents who live within 3 miles, said Colline Ferrier, public relations coordinator for the city’s department of public works.
“East Brainerd has very few other options for open space and recreation, so the park is frequented by the residents that live in the area,” she said.
The 2.5-acre off-leash dog park within Heritage Park was constructed in 2010 through a joint partnership among the Friends of East Brainerd, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, McKamey Animal Center and the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy. It features separate areas for large and small dogs, water and bath stations, double-gated entry, and agility equipment. Originally a membership fee-based amenity, the city opened the dog park to the general public in late 2016, Ferrier said.
The city chose Heritage Dog Park for its grant application due to its age and need for upgrades, said Ferrier. While there have been no major incidents of vandalism or misuse, she said some patrons have allowed children under the age of 12 to enter the dog park – which is prohibited – and they have damaged the equipment, and some users fail to properly clean up after their dogs.
City of Chattanooga officials accept a check for $25,000 from the Boyd Foundation Tennessee Dog Park Dash grant program to make improvements to the dog park at Jack Benson Heritage Park in East Brainerd. From left are Akosua Cook, parks planner, Open Spaces Division, Department of Economic and Community Development; Travis Kazmierzak, director of open spaces, Department of Economic and Community Development; Randy Boyd, founder of the Boyd Foundation; District 4 City Councilman Darrin Ledford; and Seth Flener, deputy director, Parks Division, Department of Public Works.“We would like to ensure all residents, four-legged and all, have an enjoyable experience at the park,” she said, as to why the city included the etiquette campaign in its application.
The park improvements will be scaled to stay within the $25,000 budget of the grant, said Ferrier.
Recipients are also given a 50 percent discount on dog park equipment from PetSafe, she added, and the communications team that spearheads the grant program’s messaging and outreach provides ready-made etiquette videos that will reduce costs as well.
A start and end date for the work has not yet been determined. The city will announce its plans for the use of the grant funds at the Bark in the Park event to be held at Heritage Park this fall. The grant allows for three years to expend the funds, said Ferrier.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.