DAYTON — The City of Dayton held a ribbon-cutting Friday celebrating the city’s latest park at Triangle Park on Ridge Avenue, south of Embury Park Road.
“You know, at 4 acres, this is a large, first class dog park,” said Tony Kroeger, Dayton Planning Developing.
“It’s incredibly beautiful,” Kristina Lewis told News Center’s 7 Mike Campbell.
Not everyone was happy with the move.
“There was a lot of controversy,” Lewis said. “Change isn’t easy for people. Sometimes it needs to happen. This was an upgrade.”
The Deeds Point Dog Park moved to Triangle Park, which is part of a move that came after the city sold the Deeds Point land to the Connor Group in 2021. The sale of 13 acres near Deeds Point was part of a plan to build an elementary school designed for underprivileged children.
The move to Triangle Park will mean downtown residents will need to drive and can’t walk to the park.
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Those who came to the grand opening Friday think the city hit a home run.
“It’s amazing the impact it can have and it’s all through wagging tails,” said Beth Miller, Founder & CEO Wagtown. “People are moving just because they think their pet will be happier in another community... 68% say it is a factor in where they go.”
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Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr., neighborhood leaders, and other city officials were on hand with dog owners to celebrate the new park.
The park has been unofficially open for a couple weeks and the city believes it will be a drawing card to bring more dogs to the community.