Newest Dog Park. Panama City’s
Downtowns across the US are looking for ways to become more vibrant and attract people to spend more time enjoying their amenities. Panama City, Florida took a step in that direction by building a top-notch dog park, just blocks away from the quaint historic downtown and the St. Andrews Bay. Featuring small dog and large dog sections, benches, a gazebo and fire hydrant watering stations, this park is a must for dog- loving visitors to the area. The October grand opening featured live music and a dedication to honored civil servant, Al Helms, for whom the park is named. Florida’s Emerald Coast DogSmith provided an obe- dience demonstration and helped end the ceremony with a city coun- cilman throwing out the ‘first frisbee” to an excited dog patron. Located at 1022 Balboa Avenue in Panama City. Rover reporting and photography by Stephanie Somerset, Executive Director
o Bay Families With Dogs, a non-profit advocacy group formed to improve the community environment in and around Panama City.
BayFWD.org. Also visit Friends of Shell Island at
FriendsOfShellIsland.org (Left): Zena catches a Frisbee during the opening of Al Helms Dog Park.
Newest Dog Park. Vero Beach’s
The impetus for developing a dog park in Vero Beach was to have a safe place for pets and people to socialize. And socialize they did. The grand opening of the Vero Beach Dog Park was akin to a meet-up group for canines and their owners. Looking around, dogs happily met other dogs and scrutinized for compatibility. The energy in the Park was constant movement. A formal ribbon cutting by Mayor Dick Winger
preceded the festivities. The usual ceremonial thank you’s to the benefactors took place as dogs were sniffing around the 5.5-acre property. There was talk of a future walking path, canvas sunscreens, 120 doggie pee trees, scattered drinking fountains and a gravel parking lot. Presently the fenced property is divided into a sec-
tion of four acres for large dogs while the smaller breeds have 1.5 acres of off-leash romping ground. With a 10- year lease from the City of Vero Beach, the success of this 501(c)(3) is entirely dependant on the generosity of the public. Humans were smiling as their dogs smiled up at them with apparent gratitude. Located at 3449 Indian River Drive, Vero Beach. Rover reporting by Fern Goodman. Photography by Gloria Yarina.
96 THE NEW BARKER
www.TheNewBarker.com
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