VILLAGE OF FAYETTEVILLE – A morning ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened Fayetteville’s Do Good Dog Park to the public on July 30.
Located just outside the village limits, the enclosed amenity for canines is part of Duguid Park, a multi-use, roughly 30-acre piece of land largely covered in forest.
Bolstered by funding provided by Assemblyman Al Stirpe, the first phase of the new dog park took about four months to bring to fruition.
The construction process so far has involved parking additions and the reuse of stones purchased from the old Jamesville penitentiary around the time it was torn down.
For the next phase, the village plans to include play equipment and drinking fountains for visiting dogs as well as community benches and picnic tables. Moreover, extra parking spaces will be adjoined to the current lot to account for the presumption that those who frequent the nearby walking and mountain biking trails will use parking created for Do Good Dog Park.
“We’re not done yet, but this is a great start to a dog park,” Mayor Mark Olson said. “To me, it’s just a great addition to our village and to our town.”
While he considers the dog park accessible to Fayetteville and Manlius residents location-wise, Olson said it sits far enough away from residences to make noise complaints a non-concern.
Inside the park, dividers encourage the separation of dogs that weigh over 30 pounds from ones that are smaller. However, it will be at the discretion of dog owners as to which section best suits their pooch.
Village Trustee Dennis Duggleby said local residents should feel free to bring a portable chair and a book while their dog frolics about the park.
“I doubt we’ll ever have that many dogs running around that you can’t make it your own space if you want,” he said.
Duggleby points to the progress with the dog park and other Fayetteville undertakings as emblematic of the way government is ideally designed to work.
“You stop and you think about all these projects, and they’re always a collaboration of people because everyone’s got good ideas and we listen,” Duggleby said. “The parks committee deserves a ton of credit because it was really their idea to get these woods incorporated. The DPW too are always on board to help.”
Duguid Park was acquired by the Village of Fayetteville in 1892. The public works department has used the park as a landing ground for materials like brush, and the village fire department has used it for vehicle extrication training.
To help defer future costs associated with Do Good Dog Park, the village board is looking to work with local veterinarians and businesses willing to sign on as sponsors.
