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Several of my council colleagues celebrate and laugh along with the mayor and members of the public during the award presentation at the “leash-cutting” for the new dog park.
My daughter-in-law Anastasia greets my Newfoundland Dolly as she enters the off leash area
Mayor Law and Community Services Department Manager Terry Higashiyama (the top staff person behind the park) share smiles as we discuss the amazing job the public did in raising private funds for the park. To date, the RUFF group has raised about $46,000 in private donations, and the city has spent about $17,000 in matching funds helping grade, fence, spread surface materials, and provide water to the park.
So many dogs!
Mayor Law gives a plaque to the RUFF team who organized the construction of the park
RUFF organizer Kevin Pool thanks the many people that helped make the park possible
Mayor Law “cuts the leash” to officially commision the park.
Winner of the “smallest dog” award
Winner of the best dog trick…dog playing peek-a-boo
Gail McLendon and her dog win best dog/owner color coordination. My wife noticed that her dog is featured on the McLendon sign at the very top of this blog entry. The McLendon’s family and their exceptional hardware store donated all of the fence materials for the off-leash dog park!…an extraordinarily generous donation.
My daughter Susie and her dog Max win the “Lassie Look-alike” competition.
Cake for the people, dog-bones for the Canines. What could be finer?!
Click here to see my previous story about the Dog Park.
oh what lovely photos! my fav is the second from the top – such joyous laughs and fun. couldn’t make it myself and i am glad you “covered” the event – Lady P
Thanks for the great photos, Randy! It sure was an event that made me proud to live in Renton. Beyond the recreation and fun that the dog park provides, the entire project has provided citizens of all walks of life with an opportunity to get involved in their community, and see their volunteerism bear fruit in a matter of months, not years. We shattered everyone’s expectations (including our own), but the park didn’t magically get built — it literally took thousands of hours of planning and hard work. As you know, dog people are a pretty motivated demographic. Ruff!
P.S.: Dogs, please remind your people to keep poop bags with them at all times, especially while walking from the parking area to dog park entrance. 🙂
New to the area
Wow! Am I glad to see such a great, new, well kept dog park so close to where I just moved. I have traveled all over the country with Vegas my dog (due to my job)and have visited a lot of dog parks. I can tell you all what a wonderful job you’ve done, it’s the nicest park I’ve seen. And a big thank you for building it! kiss, kiss!