Dog walking area opens in Cranberry Township
CRANBERRY TWP — Dozens of dog owners came out Saturday with their four-legged companions to be among the first to stroll together in a newly opened dog-friendly trail in North Boundary Park.
More than 60 dog owners and their dogs were joined by township officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the trail near the disc golf course.
The event marked the beginning of a one-year pilot program allowing people to walk their leashed dogs in a township park for the first time, said members of the Cranberry K-9 Connection Committee volunteer group.
“We have been talking and working with the township to get additional dog-friendly places in the township. None were allowed in parks,” said Nancy Hans, a K-9 Connection member. “We formed a committee and asked the township to allow dogs in a park on a one-year trial basis. If successful, we hope it leads to more opportunities to share our dogs in our everyday lives.”
The moves was part of a new master plan for the park created over the past year by members of the K-9 Connection Committee. The group, made up of about 25 people, was tasked with evaluating ways to increase the amount of pet-friendly space in township parks. Until Saturday, dogs were not allowed in parks other than the designated dog park in Community Park.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” Hans said, adding she was happy to see 60 to 80 people with their dogs at the ribbon-cutting.
K-9 Connections member Shawna Francis helped organize a group of volunteer ambassadors who will be at the park to help dog owners understand where they are allowed to walk their dogs and that the dogs must be on leashes. They also have to clean up after their pets, she said.
There are 12 ambassadors now, but she hopes to grow that number to between 20 and 25 by next spring.“They have to go to an orientation session on township policies and rules and pass background and child abuse checks,” Francis said. “They get an ID with a lanyard, a vest to wear over their coats and a T-shirt for summer.”She pointed out how many ambassadors also bought matching T-shirts for their dogs who accompany them while on duty.Dispensers with plastic bags that dog owners can use to clean up after their dogs are not in place yet, but will be installed at the north and south ends of the trail head, Francis said. Additionally, signage will be placed at various points throughout the park designating where dogs are allowed and where they are not, and parking lots at the veterans memorial and near the Penn Power shelter will be designated as dog-friendly.Francis hopes the pilot program is successful and leads to dogs being allowed in other township parks.Saturday's trail opening brings the number of dog-friendly areas in the township to three. In addition to the two-mile trail at North Boundary Park, residents and their furry friends can enjoy the Brush Creek Trail Extension off Commonwealth Drive and the dog park in Community Park. Those who have dogs in an unauthorized area or are unwilling to follow rules are subject to a $35 fine, which is enforced by police.
