HOLLAND – The city of Holland celebrated their new dog park this week, marking the completion of a project that has long been on the wish list of the city’s mayor, Myron Trethewey.
Although the three-acre play area for man’s best friend has been open to the public since late last year, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday.
“I’ve been asking for about 20 years and I wouldn’t take no for an answer,” said Trethewey. “Every year we had ours [Council] Advance payment [meeting], and every year I would say my number one goal is a dog park. ”
Van Raalte Farm Park was selected as the location in 2016, and the city provided the money last year to build the dog park and associated heated toilets, dog washing station and walking paths.
“It was a dream come true,” said Trethewey. The city council member is in his last tenure on the city council after more than two decades in the public service.
The Trethewey Trail, a hiking trail through the dog park, was named after him.
More:Holland’s first dog park will be built by autumn
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The dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs.
“It’s used a lot,” said Parks Director Andy Kenyon, “including myself. I have two dogs and we come here a lot. We get really positive reactions.”
“I think the unique thing about this park, unlike other parks we have visited, is that we have shade here, you can get under the trees. The obstacle courses we built by an Eagle Scout were a huge success and we actually see people training “their dogs on them.”
On Friday, the Dutch Ministry of Public Safety was on site with its K-9 unit and Polar Patrol, distributing ice cream and free dog treats.
The Harbor Humane Society also hosted an affordable drive-thru clinic in the park on Friday where pets could get their vaccines, microchips, and other health services.
The dog park, 975 E. 24th St., Holland, is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
– Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.