The new Lakeland dog park, which is located right next to the newly renovated Zadie Kuehl park, is now open. Residents can access the park in one of two ways. You can enter at 3065 Yukon Drive, or you can take the new road that leads to the park off Canada Rd (right next to The Pet Hospital).
The dog park is approximately 4 acres and has a large fenced-in area for larger dogs, and a smaller, separate fenced-in area for smaller dogs. Multiple park benches have been installed so dog owners can sit while dogs play.
The dog park concept came about under former Mayor Wyatt Bunker’s administration when a $25,000 grant was provided by The Boyd Foundation on August 8, 2018. Those funds were matched by the city. That story can be read here. The owners of The Pet Hospital also helped by donating land to the project for parking and other needs.
The new road leading to the dog park, which is located directly north of The Pet Hospital on Canada Rd, will be lit, along with the new parking area. Unfortunately, those lights are delayed due to a manufacturer delay because of COVID-19. The lights are expected to come in by the middle of January according to city officials.
Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director, Pat O’Mara, told Lakeland Currents, “We are happy with how the dog park is coming along. An official grand opening celebration for the Dog Park and Playground will take place sometime after that, once it is safe to do so.”
