The Town of Ponoka is holding the grand opening of the new Ponoka off-leash dog park on June 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the park which is located at 5609 - 49 St. (on the east side of 49 St. south of 57 Ave.) across from the town’s operations department.
“The new dog park has been a popular new attraction in our community since it opened for use late last fall,” said Town of Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.
“I constantly see cars in the parking lot and people strolling along the trails in the new park with their dogs.
“I think the location is a big draw because the new park is located up on the river bank in the beautiful Battle River Valley, and is fully fenced but still offers gated access to the river,” he added.
“In fact, the new dog park is such a fantastic new feature in our community that even my wife and I had to get a dog so we could also enjoy the new park.”
He noted the town decided to wait until this spring to host the grand opening to take advantage of warmer weather and give the grass a better chance to grow before hosting a big public event at the new park.
The grand opening will include pet-friendly vendors, giveaways, and treats for pets.
The off-leash dog park also features dog agility equipment, sheltered seating areas with benches, fencing around the park’s perimeter with access to the Battle River, and a gravel walking trail that makes a loop around the park.
Other highlights include a fenced small dog area, waste receptacles, double-gated entrances, waste bag stations to pick up after your pet, a paved parking lot with overflow parking available at the north trailhead of the Battle River, a valley walking trail system located just north of the new park on 49 St., and a trail extension that connects the new park with the north trailhead of the Battle River Valley trail system.
“I suspect the new dog park will start attracting visitors to our community as part of the growing interest in ‘doggy tourism’ where people take their dogs to other communities to explore new dog parks,” said Ferguson.
For more about the park, visit www.ponoka.ca/p/off-leash-dog-park.