WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?.
Gravenhurst Mayor Paisley Donaldson poses with her chihuahua Milo during the official opening of the new off-leash Staff Sergeant Larry Bigley K9 Park.
Photo by Roland Cilliers
GRAVENHURST - The dogs of Gravenhurst have a new reason to wag their tails.
The off-leash dog park on John Street South was officially opened and named on Thursday morning. Dubbed the Staff Sergeant Larry Bigley K9 Park, after a former Ontario Provincial Police officer and K9 handler, the park provides a place for the region’s dogs to legally run around without wearing a leash.
Mayor Paisley Donaldson joined the volunteer committee, as well as about 20 dogs and 60 members of the public for the official “unleashing” ceremony.
Nancy Beal, first chair of the volunteer off-leash dog park committee, said, in a pun-filled speech, that the park represents a major improvement in the quality of life for many local canines.
“This is more than a toss of a bone, it is a new leash on life for them. This park is a safe haven from traffic and other hazards where our best friends can frolic and socialize safely,” said Beal. “Dog parks provide the opportunity for dogs to stay healthy by getting the type of exercise they can’t get on a leash.”
The project was driven by a group of volunteers who had been working with town staff since 2009.