For several years a group of dedicated citizens approached City Council requesting a dog park at the Ed Austin Regional Park. The City Council eventually approved the addition of a dog park in the Ed Austin master plan and the Recreation and Parks Department granted the community permission to clear by hand approximately 4 acres of heavy brush, vines and small trees. This work used community volun
teers in lieu of labor paid for by tax payers. The park still relies on volunteers to keep it moving forward, clean, healthy, and peaceful. Phase one was the clearing process. Volunteers worked hard to complete this portion while also building a strong dog park community to demonstrate to City Council our broad based community support for this project. Nothing spoke louder to politicians than citizens willing to volunteer time and effort to offset what would otherwise be taxpayer expense! This activity paved the way towards phase two, pursuing funding options with the city for water, fencing, and concrete. Now, we are open. It was important that we harnessed all our enthusiasm to raise support and clear the woods so City Council would see just how valuable this park would be to us, to the city, and to the taxpayers who love dogs. Even now that the park is open, there are still many ways to get involved! Please contact us if you are willing and able to provide "Time, Talent, and/or Treasure" to keep this great accomplishment moving ahead, growing, and developing past our own community and into others. Let the city know how far you commute in Jacksonville to get to a dog park. They regularly need to hear what an important community building concept dog parks really are. We encourage other areas of Jacksonville to follow us, but also rally your own citizens and work towards getting more dog parks in our great town!
