John Goepfert, of Herman, works on commands with his dog, Beans, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
BUTLER TWP — Remi and Beans got a little muddy during their trip to Jade’s Dog Park on Tuesday, April 9, which is the reason Butler County Parks and Recreation plans to close the park for up to six weeks.
MaryAnn Rieger, of Ross Township, took her 8-month-old pointer, Remi, to Jade’s on Tuesday to enjoy the weather. Rieger said although the dog park is one of only a few in the region where her puppy can run free of a leash, she appreciates that the county is closing the park to replant the fields.
“We were here a couple weeks ago and she got so muddy,” Rieger said. “It’s definitely a good thing for them to fix up.”
County commissioners approved the closure during a meeting March 27 to make improvements, repair fencing and aerate and seed the lawn in and around the park. The parks and recreation advisory review committee recommended the closure, and it is scheduled to close from Monday, April 15 to May 24, according to Lance Welliver, director of county parks and recreation.
Welliver said the dog park ground is saturated and ponds have formed, a damaged fence is preventing the gate from closing properly, agility equipment has been pulled out of the ground and grass around the park has been damaged.
John Goepfert, of Herman, also said the park could use some work, after bringing his dog, Beans, to the park several times this year. Goepfert said the two have seen upward of 20 dogs running through Jade’s during visits to the park, so he understands how the field could get so torn up over time.
“There is a pretty big mud hole out there now,” Goepfert said.
Mike Lauro, of Butler, was on the small-dog side of Jade’s on Tuesday afternoon, which seemed to be a little more intact than the space intended for large dogs. Lauro said the dog park having two sides helps his small dog, Toby, have fun while minimizing the risk of getting roughed up by a larger dog.
“It’s a great park,” Lauro said. “A lot of people who come here, they don’t have many options for their dogs. He’s so small that having them separated on two sides is nice.”
MaryAnn Rieger, of Ross Township, plays with her dog, Remi, at Jade’s Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
John Goepfert, of Herman, works on commands with his dog, Beans, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mike Lauro, of Butler, tosses a disc for his dog, Toby, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mike Lauro, of Butler, tosses a disc with his dog, Toby, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Mike Lauro, of Butler, tosses a disc for his dog, Toby, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
MaryAnn Rieger, of Ross Township, plays with Beans at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
John Goepfert, of Herman, works on commands with his dog, Beans, at Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park on Tuesday, April 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
