After years of anticipation for the public and hard work by the organizing committee, people couldn鈥檛 wait to start using the new Estevan Dog Park, located in the northwestern corner of Woodlawn Regional Park.
Some people have already started to use the dog park鈥檚 small park, a parcel of land that is nearly an acre in size. But the small park hasn鈥檛 officially opened, as some work still remains.
鈥淲e鈥檝e ordered benches and tables from Estevan Diversified Services鈥� woodworking department,鈥� dog park committee member Jennifer Gervais said in an interview with the Mercury. 鈥淭hey have added nice little dog park touches.鈥�
They have waited to put out the benches and tables, as well as the chairs, until plaques are installed that recognize the sponsors who supported the structures.
A message board will also be added to the small park. It has information on potential adoptions and events in the park. And they鈥檙e waiting for signage that will explain the park鈥檚 rules.
鈥淲aiting on signage is a big one to get this open,鈥� she said.
And they hope to have a wood-carved sign at the front entrance of the park.
The fencing is already in place. Some of it was installed late last year, and the rest was in place this spring.
Gervais is confident they can have an official opening for the small park before the end of the summer.
The dog park committee is happy to see people are already using the area. They have placed a note on each gate that explains that, even though they can use the park, they should do so at their own discretion, because a couple of areas need to be built up, so that dogs can鈥檛 escape underneath the fence.
鈥淲e love that it鈥檚 getting used without it even being open yet,鈥� said Gervais. 鈥淚鈥檇 say that nine out of 10 times I come down here, there are people down here with their dogs.鈥�
People who have been to the dog park are excited they have a place to relax and watch their dogs run around.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful spot,鈥� said Gervais. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most treed areas in Estevan. There鈥檚 shade already built in. So we鈥檝e gotten a really good response with the location. And it鈥檚 by the river. You can鈥檛 ask for a nicer spot, to be honest. Woodlawn did well by giving us this spot.鈥�
They also have a parking lot for the park鈥檚 users.
Gervais touted the dog park as a family-friendly site that gives people another outdoor activity, where they can socialize and talk with other people who have similar interests. And it鈥檚 a great place for dogs to interact.
A larger park, to the east of the small park, is still going to be constructed. It will likely be in the neighbourhood of 1.5 to two acres.
鈥淲e wanted to build a park with the fencing we had, as soon as we could, just to get a park in motion,鈥� said Gervais.
The park did a good job of weathering the heavy rains associated with the July 10 thunderstorm in Estevan. Heavy winds slanted their fence in one corner of the park, but Gervais said that can be fixed.
The dog park committee recently received some good news, when they found out they would receive a $7,000 grant from Affinity Credit Union, which should be enough to finish the dog park.
鈥淚t is such a big deal that they gave it to us,鈥� said Gervais.
Fundraisers for the park have been taking place for the last couple years. People have hired dog park committee members to work at their functions, with money directed towards the park.
The dog park has received about $15,000 in cash donations, and some material donations, such as the fence, which came from the Woodlawn Regional Park.
But now that they have the support from Affinity, they won鈥檛 be fundraising for capital costs associated with the large park. Gervais is confident they now have sufficient funds for their future expansion.
The focus of their fundraising will now be for other, ongoing costs of the park, such as insurance and maintenance.
