Canine residents will have a place to roam with the opening next week of Frederick County’s first dog park.
The park, in Ballenger Creek Park at 5420 Ballenger Creek Pike in Frederick, is to open Thursday.
An opening celebration will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring police dog demonstrations and local vendors.
The four-acre park was built as part of the recently completed community building project. The park features two separate off-leash areas each for small dogs and all dogs, along with walkways, trails, benches and water fountains.
The project also included the construction of a new parking lot, two canopies and an information kiosk.
Bob Hicks, assistant director of Frederick County Parks and Recreation, said the dog park is the result of requests from county residents. The approval and design process took several years, and construction began in May, Hicks said.
“It’s a place where people can let their dogs run off the leash,” Hicks said. “It’s good for socialization of dogs, as well.”
Hicks said he didn’t have an estimate on the cost of the dog park because it was lumped in with the community building project, which cost just under $1.8 million.
— Brian Englar
