After years of planning, Toledo will finally have a much-needed community off-leash dog park. Initial work has begun and the dog park has been given a name, the Glass City Dog Park. The park will be open in late September. This past week, the land survey was completed, water lines were installed for the dog/people drinking fountains, and the property was staked for the perimeter six-foot-high fencing.

The Glass City Dog Park is located along the Anthony Wayne Trail on the former site of the South Toledo YMCA, just south of the Toledo Zoo, part of Woodsdale Park. The City of Toledo owns the land and has entered into a long-term lease with Toledo Unleashed. Glass City Dog Park is being developed and managed by a private 501©3 non-profit organization known as Toledo Ohio Pet Services, Inc., AKA Toledo Unleashed.

The Glass City Dog Park will be a place where dogs can legally run and play off-leash in a safe and secure setting. The 4.4-acre site is divided into three distinct areas–one for small dogs under 25 pounds and two for larger dogs. The two large dog sections will be rotated each year allowing one to re-grow, but also to be used occasionally for exercise by local K-9 police dogs as well as to exercise and socialize the adoptable dogs at the Lucas County Canine Care Department. The dog park will feature a six-foot-high black vinyl fence, 12 benches, shade trees, three pet drinking fountains, two open shelters, eight pet waste stations, a three-foot-wide gravel walking path on the inside perimeter of each section of the dog park, a secure double-gated entrance area, and parking for over 200 cars in Woodsdale Park. The site plan for the dog park was laid out and designed by the Toledo Design Center.

The capital costs to build the dog park are now $141,000, of which Toledo Unleashed has already raised over $86,000. Major donors, as of today include Steve Serchuk, Block Communications, Lucas County, the Toledo Animal Shelter, Sue Joseph, Dr. Bob Esplin of Sylvania Vet, Yark Subaru, and the Toledo Veterinary Medical Association. Additionally, a number of business and labor unions have agreed to provide in-kind material and service donations. These include the Sheet Metal Union Local 33, the Cement Masons Local 886, the Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local 50, the Laborers Local 500, the Shelly Company, the Kuhlman Corporation, the Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio, the City of Toledo, Lewandowski Engineers, The Toledo Design Center, and Shumaker Loop & Kendrick. A number of other businesses and individuals have indicated that they are considering significant contributions that may be forthcoming in the next several weeks. Additionally, there still exists a number of limited sponsorship opportunities related to benches and pet waste stations in the dog park.

The Glass City Dog Park is a membership park with the Charter Membership being $10 for two dogs. This membership is good from late September 2014 until February 13, 2015. Thereafter, the annual membership fee will be $40 a year running from every Valentine’s Day, February 14, until the following February 13. This date was chosen as the annual renewal date because the organizers believe that “nobody loves you like your dog” is a good way to remember to renew your dog park membership. The fees will be used to cover the projected $25,000 annual cost of lawn mowing and landscaping, pet waste services, trash removal, insurance and membership serving expenses. Each member will be given a swipe card which will allow them to securely enter the dog park. Membership is open to anyone throughout the community whose dog is six months of age or older, is licensed, spayed or neutered and up to date on rabies and required vaccinations. Membership applications can be filled out online at ToledoUnleashed.org beginning Saturday, August 16.

Today, there are no off-leash dog parks in our community to serve the 62,000 licensed dogs in just Lucas County. According to the Lucas County Auditor’s office, there are almost 1,000 licensed dogs who live within a three-minute drive time of the dog park and almost 5,500 dogs within a seven-minute drive time. Matt Cherry, the Toledo City Councilman representing South Toledo and a member of the Toledo Unleashed Board, recently stated, “The Glass City Dog Park will serve an unmet need of both people and dogs in our community. We have brought together residents, businesses, and labor throughout the area to assist in the building of this community asset.”

A “Ground Barking Ceremony” has been scheduled for 10am on Saturday, August 16 at the Glass City Dog Park. The event will be open to the public.