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Bark Park opens in South Fayette

2 min read

South Fayette Township celebrated the opening of a new dog park Thursday, May 4, with a “treat-breaking ceremony.”

Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, township officials broke a giant homemade dog treat in half and fed pieces to lab mix littermates Cody and Cole, the animal companions of Dominique Robinson of South Fayette.

Humans and dogs were invited to explore Bark Park, a newly built, 5-acre, wooded, fenced off-leash dog park at Fairview Park. The public event included music, dog-themed vendors, paw-shaped cookies for humans, and bone-shaped treats for dogs.

After the treat-breaking, Robinson took her dogs into the Bark Park. “This is the first time they’ve been able to roam in a large, open space,” she said. “They got a great workout.”

The Bark Park is open to the public from dawn to dusk and does not require a permit.

Paula Willis, the South Fayette parks and recreation director, said the community wanted a unique dog park rather than a typical small grassy area because people enjoy Fairview Park’s trees and natural elements. At Bark Park, she said, “You’re still enjoying the outdoors, but your dog is still safe within the fenced-in area, and other park users are also safe.”

The Bark Park includes 5 acres of woods, a 1-mile loop trail, a picnic shelter, and water fountains for humans and pooches.

Jason Mount, president of the South Fayette Parks and Recreation Board, thanked community members for contributing to a crowdfunding account to buy benches for Bark Park.

Township Manager John M. Barrett said the project was a cooperative effort. “Having this Bark Park is a great community asset,” he said.

Bark Park is the first new feature to open at the Mayview redevelopment site, which formerly housed part of Mayview State Hospital. The overall project also will include a splash pad, three ball fields with artificial-turf infields, a pavilion, and a new park entrance from Mayview Road.

“When this whole project is done, Fairview Park is really going to be something that stands out, not just for the residents, but also their furry friends,” Willis said.

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