Time may be limited for Summerside’s Bark Park in its current location, next to the Shur-Gain Feeds and Needs store on Ottawa Street, but these pooches don’t seem to mind. The park will have to move due to the development on the property. Watching Bucko, Maggie, Rexie and Jerzie play at the park on Tuesday are (from left) Peter and Maggie Wood, and Rachel Sauve. Stephen Brun/Journal Pioneer
SUMMERSIDE - The Summerside Bark Park has found a new home.
The Summerside Dog Park Committee, in partnership with the City of Summerside, has announced that the dog park is moving near the waste water treatment facility off Seaweed Road and Mackenzie Drive, from its former location at the Shur-Gain Feeds and Needs property on Ottawa Street.
"It's great to have a new location for the dog park," said Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart. "I want to thank Shur-Gain for the last 10 years. The new one should be up and running in the next few days. It's a place for people to go and relax with their pets."
For a decade the Bark Park was located on land provided by Shur-Gain for dog owners to let their pets run free. Recent developments at Shur-Gain have resulted in the park being slated for closure."
Bobby Dunn, director of the city's community services department, said staff looked at six different sites, some of which had multiple options on them, before selecting the Seaweed Road site.
Dunn didn't know the exact size of the new Bark Park.
"The old site was approximately 700 linear feet and this new site has ample space," he said. "Size wise, it's a nice spot. Accessibility in the wintertime will be great. That road is plowed regularly because they have the wastewater plant right there. That place is a significant infrastructure in our city. It certainly gets priority for plowing and there's ample parking there."
The Shur-Gain Bark Park location is due to close on Nov.1 and the new Seaweed Road location will open on Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.
"It is a bit of a moving target depending on the weather (hurricane Sandy)," Dunn said of the transition. "It looks like we're going to be okay. We're planning on going in (Tuesday) and starting the fencing if the conditions are fine. Then by Nov. 1 on the city's website and at both locations (Shur-Gain and Seaweed Road) we'll be posting something."
Stewart said one of the reasons for the selection of the new site was its proximity to the boardwalk.
"Some of the staff thought that it's handy to the boardwalk and it would be a great opportunity for people to go there from the boardwalk and use both," the mayor said. "It's on city land there. So, hopefully within the next few days we'll get the fences up and be ready to rumble."
