Pet Forum

Sandy Springs Park Going to the Dogs

By Ann Marie Quill

Sandy Springs resident Katherine Fein soon will not have to travel all the way to Piedmont Park when she wants to take her 3-year-old German shepherd, Frisco, to a place where he has room to run and romp around.

When Sandy Springs became its own city, it was able to purchase parks for $1 an acre from Fulton County. Once the land was acquired, the city asked its citizens what they would like to see done at the parks, and it got a resounding answer: "Dog park, dog park, dog park; there was three times as much interest for a dog park than anything else," Fein says.

She's now serving on a fundraising committee for 1 1/2 acres at Ridgeview Park off Trimble and Peachtree-Dunwoody roads that the city has designated a future dog park. Ground will be broken soon, and the city hopes to welcome dogs to the park this fall.

"It's a gorgeous, underutilized park," Fein says. "Hopefully, as a dog park it can get better. We feel this is a great way to utilize the park." She adds that there will be separate areas for large and small dogs.

While funding is in place for fencing, maintenance, grass and water, "we're also looking for fun stuff," Fein says. So the public is being called upon to help fund agility-type equipment that can cost between $50 and $100.

Fein says as far as a funding goal, the sky's the limit, and if companies or people wish to donate for a particular piece of equipment, a plaque or something similar can be placed on or near it. Trader Joe's in Sandy Springs is already planning to provide waste bags.

"It's not in dogs to be on a leash," Fein says. "They need to be able to run free and play. And with agility equipment, they will have even more to do."

For information about donating to the park, contact Fein at (404) 843-1181 or katherine@franmartconnection.com.

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