Officials with the City of East Ridge announced that their city was awarded one of only 15 $25,000 grants as part of the 2021 Tennessee Dog Park Dash by the Boyd Foundation. The money will provide the opportunity for the city to create a dog park at Springvale Park in the heart of East Ridge. The park is slightly more than two acres in size and will provide plenty of space for a safe social outlet for dogs and their owners.
The City of East Ridge had previously explored the possibility of constructing a dog park at Springvale Park, but the funds needed were not available to complete the project. When leaders learned of the Boyd Foundation’s grant opportunity, they created an online forum within the community on social media platforms requesting citizens’ opinions on potentially building a dog park. The survey’s response numbers skyrocketed within hours with positive feedback.
“Pet owners expressed their want for a possible dog park for multiple reasons,” said Cameron McAllister, grant writer for East Ridge. “Most importantly was to create a sense of community within our hometown and to allow social time for their dogs as well as others. Local citizens also indicated that they would gladly make annual contributions to help maintain the quality of the park once it is opened.”
Officials said, "Currently the city lacks access to a fenced area for dogs to safely play, therefore causing citizens to travel to surrounding cities for this amenity. This grant will allow for the construction of a much needed area for dogs to safely roam leash free and play with other dogs in a controlled environment. Studies have also shown that having dogs and actively going to dog parks can also have a positive influence on a person’s health."
Representatives from the Boyd Foundation will be making the check presentation to the City of East Ridge between August and October. Additional information and updates will be posted on the City’s website at www.eastridgetn.gov.