Public invited to attend festivities, with activities planned for canines and humans
The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Canine Club at Gillespie Park, which will be conducted at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, the City of Sarasota has announced.
The City Commission approved plans for the off-leash dog park in 2017, after area residents expressed their support for the project over a number of years, a news release points out.
“We’re excited to provide an amenity the community has been requesting for some time,” said city Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle in the release. “Dog parks aren’t just for dogs. They offer plenty of health and public safety benefits, they serve as a place for families and neighbors to come together, and they help build stronger communities.”
The Canine Club at Gillespie Park will feature two separate fenced areas, the release says: one for big dogs; the other, for little dogs. That way, all canines “can run, play and have fun in a comfortable environment,” the release points out.
The dog park also will include “doggie drinking fountains, plus newly planted trees, landscaping and shade structures,” the release says.
This will be the second dog park in the city limits; the other is located within Arlington Park.
The grand opening is free and open to the public, the release points out. It will “include fun activities for attendees, both human and canine,” the release adds.
Gillespie Park is located at 710 N. Osprey Ave. in Sarasota. The dog park is located on the north side of the park, near the corner of North Osprey Avenue and 10th Street.