DAYTON — The non-profit, “Friends of Deeds Point Dog Park”, is having to relocate after the city sold the land the dog park is on to a group planning to build a school.
The dog park sits on land that’s always been owned by the city, but it was turned into a play land for canines in 2012.
The park has been around for nine years while also being open 365 days a year, but the city always had goals for the area that could have an impact on the dogs.
On Wednesday, Dayton City Commissioners approved a proposed sale of 13 acres near Deeds Point to the Connor Group with plans to build an elementary school designed for underprivileged children.
Mayor Nan Whaley told News Center 7 the Connor Group could invest as much as $25 million in the site and school to provide educational and social services to the students and families they plan to enroll.
Whaley says the proposed sale of land to the Connor Group will not hurt dogs or their owners, and the city plans to build a newer dog park.
“We’re working to make the dog park permanent, that will be nearby, it will be larger, probably one of the best dog parks in the region,” Whaley said.
Butch Richardson, President, Friends Of Deeds Point Dog Park, says the move will be bittersweet.
“There’s good news in that we’re going to have a new dog park, it’s disappointing that we put so much work into this one and we’ll have to move,” Richardson said.
The move won’t happen until the sale is final, and might not take place until late summer or early fall.
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