Paducah Needs a Dog Park!

Paducah is amazing in all it offers its lucky citizens. Maiden Alley Cinema, the Carson Center, Market House Theater, the ice rink, all the yummy downtown dining and shopping, the Lowertown Arts District, the Quilt Museum, iList Paducah — Lord we could go on and on and on.

But we’ve been lacking something vital to a modern community and the 20/30 Group aims to partner with the Parks Department to fix that.

We’re going to get us a Dog Park!

The 20/30 Group prez Darlene Dreyer, along with the group’s Philanthropy Chair Ben Brazzel and Education Chair Trace Stevens are looking for sponsorship for this very worthy “pet project.” (Har har! Get it? PET project! I crack myself up sometimes!)

“This dog park would be the only publicly available park of its kind in McCracken County and all adjacent counties,” Darlene says. “Currently the closest public park of this kind is in Calloway County in Murray. Park systems in other cities have dog parks — Owensboro, Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green are great examples.”

Why bother?

Well! I’m glad you asked!

Check out the Parks Department presentation, join the Paducah Needs a Dog Park Facebook group and consider these great dog park benefits, as noted by the American Kennel Club:

Allows dogs to exercise and socialize safely.
Puppies and adult dogs need room to run, and enclosed play areas permit them to do so while preventing them from endangering themselves and others (for example, by running into the path of an oncoming vehicle). In addition, dogs accustomed to playing with animals and people other than their owners are more likely to be well-socialized and react well toward strangers.

Promotes responsible dog ownership.
Dog parks prevent off-leash animals from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children and those who may be fearful of dogs. Parks also make it easier for a city to enforce its leash laws, as resident dog owners with park access have no reason to allow their canine companions off-leash when outside of the park.

Provides an outlet for dog owners to socialize.
Dog parks are a great place for owners to meet other people with common interests. The love people share for their dogs reaches beyond economic and social barriers and helps to foster a sense of community. Park users also benefit from the opportunity to ask questions of other owners and find solutions to problems they might be having with their pet.

Makes for a better community by promoting public health and safety.
Well-exercised dogs are better neighbors who are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively and destroy property. Their presence in the park, along with their owners, also helps to deter crime.

So looky, we might be featuring an iDate of the Week right here on the iPet of the Week! It’s been proven that folks all over the world (except Paducah) use dog parks as their primary source of recreation and socialization. Just like the joggers and the basketball players and the playground users do.

The 20/30 Group has come up with an enticing sponsorship package to make this come true for Paducah.

Donations can be sent to:
Paducah Parks Services attn: Dog Park
1400 HC Mathis Dr.
Paducah, Ky. 42001

Brazzel points out: “Many local pet owners do not have property on which to let their pups roam free nor socialize with other animals in a safe and clean environment.”

With all of our help, the 20/30 Group is going to solve that problem for good!

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