Belmont County Dog Park officially opens with an emotional surprise

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — The Belmont County Dog Park had its grand opening today.

Not only was there a traditional ribbon cutting, but some surprising emotional moments as well, and plenty of four-legged individuals celebrating their new park.

Click of scissors.

Woo-Hoo!!!

Applause.

With that, the Belmont County Dog Park was opened.

But wait.

In an emotional surprise to its founder, Sheriff Dave Lucas, this park has a new name.

The David M. Lucas Dog Park.”

Josh Meyer, Belmont County Commissioner

The park has all the amenities. Not only two sections, for large and small dogs, but separate entry ways.

The swimming pools were immediately initiated by the sheriff’s dog, Loki.

There are water faucets, waste bag dispensers, decorative fire hydrants, and seating for dog owners.

Sheriff Lucas recognized the value of humans when he visited other dog parks.

The community, the people, the seniors coming together and talking and socializing. I mean, it’s like they got their dogs, and they come in, and they talk.”

Sheriff David M. Lucas, Belmont County

This dog park was built with no tax dollars, all donations.

We were so fortunate. We would think of something we needed and put it up on the Facebook page and literally within a day the trees were paid for.”

Sherri VanTassel, Sheriff’s Department Outreach Coordinator

So were the benches, the pools, and the memorial pavers.

The fences were built by residents of the Belmont Correctional Institution and arranged by the past and present wardens.

But they were there, doing all the physical manual work, putting all the posts, doing the concrete, stretching the fence, I can just go on.”

Sheriff David M. Lucas, Belmont County

Forgiveness and moving forward are really important for our development, and I’m glad that we could partake and help build a community structure that is meaningful.”

Kyle Dunlap, Belmont County Correctional Camp Dog Handler

We still have a pavilion to build. We just couldn’t get it done in time. And it’ll actually be split between the two enclosures so that people can sit at picnic tables, and talk to each other across the fence, and that way, the idea was to get people out socializing and to give dogs exercise. And I think we accomplished that.”

Sherri VanTassel, Sheriff’s Department Outreach Coordinator

So, the signs will change for what is now the David M. Lucas Dog Park.
Yeah, I wasn’t ready for that.”

Sheriff David M. Lucas, Belmont County

The park also received a $27,000 ODNR Natureworks grant.

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