We decided this past Sunday was the perfect day to take Gracie on a little adventure to Pawtucket Rhode Island to check out Pawtucket's highly anticipated dog park scheduled to open this month. Dogs near and far are barking about the news from the City of Pawtucket's Parks and Recreation Department who said the grand opening will be sometime in late May 2011.
The Pawtucket City Council, at the urging of a young resident named McKenzie Rennick, approved the Slater Park site as at least a temporary location for the city's dog park in late February of this year. The park will be open on a trial basis for a year as Animal Control Officer John Holmes monitors how well it works.
The Pawtucket Dog Park will be located inside Slater Park at the grassy, fenced-in area where the Slater Park Lawn Bowls Club used to play. The genteel sport of lawn bowling has literally gone to the dogs.
According to an article posted in the Valley Breeze Newspaper, "the current fenced-in area behind the Looff Carousel at Slater Park will be divided in half, with an area for small dogs (less than 30 pounds) on one side, and one for large dogs (30 pounds or more) on the other. There will be separate entrances for the two sections, each with a "bullpen" containment area guarded by a spring-loaded gate to prevent dogs from escaping. A second gate, this one manually operated, will let pets and their owners into the park, where they'll be allowed to run free." Read more
The future site is a perfect spot for a dog park. Gracie took some photos to share with all you!
There is a large fenced in area with nine benches all around and one double bench. It really is one of the nicest dog parks we've seen in New England.
When the dog park does open officially, we recommend you spend the day over at Slater Memorial Park. This park is the oldest and largest public park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The park is named after Samuel Slater, a famous American industrialist who constructed America's first water-powered mill in Pawtucket.
The park lies on the banks of the beautiful Ten Mile River and features the 1685 Daggett House, the oldest house in Pawtucket.
There is also a beautiful pond with a winding walking path and a garden stone gazebo.
We also saw the Pawtucket Municipal Animal Shelter which is located within Slater Park.
We had a great adventure. Gracie was exhausted!
A special thanks to McKenzie Rennick for advocating for this dog park in Rhode Island.
Do you know of any dog parks or other dog friendly locations you would like to share with Gracie's Bark? Email us anytime at [email protected]. We'd love to hear a "bark" back from all our friends in New England and beyond.
Don't forget to take some photos of your dog enjoying Slater Park and share them with us!