Dog owners in the Ohio Valley are currently able to enjoy not one but two dog parks in Wheeling thanks to the opening of a second location near the White Palace at Wheeling Park.
And soon, canines and their companions won’t have to cross the Ohio River to enjoy the same type of amenity.
That’s because during the summer months, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, in partnering with the Road Hoad Animal Project and the Belmont County Commission, announced that the Belmont County Animal Park would be coming to a two-acre plot near the current home of the county’s health department. Plans are being developed and funding is being sought, including a $27,341 grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, to help with construction costs and various materials.
While there’s no set date for the park will open, one county official is adamant it will take place in 2023.
“Sheriff (Dave) Lucas is still set on opening up next year, that’s his goal,” said Sherri VanTassel, outreach coordinator with the BCSO.
Lucas included the dog park in his list of projects he wanted to accomplish after multiple vacation trips in which he enjoyed going to dog parks with his family, including his trusty companion, Loki. The fact that Belmont County lacked such a facility weighed on him, so he made it part of his plan to better the county.
When the announcement was first made, donations began pouring in. Van Tassel noted there’s already $10,000 that was donated, even without an official fundraising event. Those events are coming, however, and one, in fact, has already taken place at the Belmont County Fairgrounds. Getting in the spirit of the season, a Halloween Dog Costume Party was held from 1-4 p.m. A silent auction also was held, along with a bake sale for both humans and dogs. All of the proceeds went to the dog park.
There are also memorial and honorary paving bricks that are available for purchase and engraving. Those will be installed at the entrance to the dog park.
Cost Savings and Cooperation
Van Tassel noted the county commission was able to find and donate the 2 acres of land on which the dog park will be located. They are also working to get water ran to the property to provide refreshments for the canines.
The sheriff is also in talks with Belmont Correctional Institute about utilizing prisoner labor to help with construction.
“If the prison can help construct the fencing needed, that would be a huge cost savings right there,” Van Tassel said. “They are working to see if it’s in the prisoner’s skill set to do that type of construction to determine if that’s doable.”
The workforce will also help construct the two pavilions, one on each side the dog park, that both canines and their owners can sit and enjoy a moment’s rest in the shade as each will have a roof to keep out the elements.
If the prisoners can perform the labor, Van Tassel noted that Lowe’s has agreed to provide the materials at cost, further lessening the financial burden of bringing the dog park to fruition.
Dog Park Layout
Van Tassel noted the layout will be similar to the dog parks in Wheeling in that the grounds will be split into two sides—one for larger dogs, and one for smaller. There will be benches for sitting, in addition to the pavilion areas, along with watering hydrants for the dogs.
But there will also be some amenities at the Belmont County park not found in Wheeling.
Van Tassel said there will be some entertainment and enrichment items installed for the dogs, things like the see saw, agility polls, and other various elements to provide an added bonus for the dogs. There will also be doggy pools installed.
“We want to have someone there that can help train dog owners on how to let there dogs use the agility equipment safely so that they can enjoy themselves,” Van Tassel said.
There is also a movement to have some dog trainers come in for group sessions of various types, not just for the agility equipment, but to work on other types of training, including recall.
The BCSO is looking to offer an assortment of activities at the park, for both canines and humans, to better their overall experience at the facility.
It will also benefit tourism in the county, along with other businesses. Pet owners are great in number and many enjoy traveling with their four-legged family members. Because of that, they seek out pet-friendly places to travel, and having a first-rate dog park to enjoy will rocket Belmont County up the list of desirable destinations for those travelers.
