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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
City council candidates spend less than $10,000 – so far
Stanhope fails to file
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Equipped with everything to make dog and master happy, Galt’s first bark parks is scheduled to open on April 19.
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By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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It’s going to be a day gone to the dogs in Galt on April 19, as the city has planned a bow-wow of a celebration for the grand opening of Galt’s first Bark Park for dogs.
Inspired by area residents, Monterey Park, as it is formally known, will be commonly called the Bark Park by those who have waited for a public place to take their canine companions for a little fun in the sun.
Located at the corner of Lake Park Avenue and Monterey Bay Court, adjacent to the Comfrey senior apartments, the Bark Park is just over three acres of dog park, playgrounds, basketball court, and open turf suitable for t-ball or picnics.
“We felt like this was the perfect location for a dog park,” said Galt Parks and Recreation Director Boyce Jeffries. “It’s right next to the senior apartments, perfect for a walk for both dog and master.”
Joining in making the bark park possible, the Galt Kiwanis Club has committed to first installing, and then keeping stocked, the necessary doggie waste bag dispensers. The Kiwanis have also helped to pay for half of the park’s stone sign, which bears the Kiwanis insignia.
“We were looking for a project that benefited kids and seniors,” said Kiwanis club member Elizabeth Aguire. “We checked with the city and were told about the Bark Park concept and we ran with it. We make kids our number one priority commitment to making Galt a better place to live, and the park was a perfect fit.”
Considered an excellent addition to Galt’s already stellar commitment to parks and recreation, Jeffries said he wants the entire town to celebrate the addition of this new and unique park to the city.
“This really rounds out the city’s commitment to provide access to parks in each of our neighborhoods,” said Jeffries. “The residents of this area told us at a Plan a Park Day held back in September of 2006 that they wanted a dog park in their neighborhood. We took their request to the city council and they approved the concept in November the same year.”
The park consists of separate play and gathering areas, including two separate areas especially for dogs. Each of the dog parks is fenced in with gated access. Each comes equipped with agility and field trial training equipment, such as bridge and ramps, hoops to jump through and tubes to crawl through.
The park comes equipped with dog level water fountains and waste baggie dispensers to keep the park clean.
All dogs must be four months old or older, must wear a current dog license, be under voice control and in sight of the owner at all times. Dogs must show no signs of aggression, and be removed immediately if signs of aggression occur. An adult must accompany children under 15, and there will be a limit of two dogs per handler.
Want to exercise yourself and/or the kids at the same time as the dog? You can at Monterey Park with its two playgrounds, suitable for kids preschool age through elementary school, its awesome swings, or at the full-court basketball court, all right in one park.
“We are very excited about the opening of this new park,” said Aguire. “We invite everyone to the grand opening where we will have a puppy show, vaccination clinic and other fun activities.”
At a cost of just over $1 million in capital park impact fees, Monterey Park, will be the bark of the town – with bow wow good times for canines and their companions.
April 19 celebration in the Bark Park
Bring the entire family to the grand opening of Galt’s first Bark Park, located at the corner of Lake Park Avenue and Monterey Bay Court, on April 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include:
• Galt Police canine demonstration/Galt PD cadets
• Kiwanis puppy show/vaccination clinic
• A spay and neuter commuter bus
• Face painting
• Tile painting/to adorn the park’s main sign with the community touch
• Tree planting in observation of Arbor Day
• Bounce houses for the little ones
• T-ball instructional games on the grass beginning at 11 a.m.
• Free hot dogs, soda and chips to the first 500 to visit the park
• Area clean up in observation of Earth Day for those interested
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