“’Paw-some’ – that’s dog talk for ‘awesome,’” is how California pet expert Arden Moore described the just-dedicated $500,000 Beneful Dream Dog Park site at north 3181 Willow Creek Road.
More than 350 people and nearly that many dogs attended the late-morning Dec. 10 unveiling of the largest dog park – 2.3 acres—ever renovated by Beneful.
Themed as “Sirens and Hydrants,” the park is in recognition of firefighters and the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died tragically June 30, 2013, when a wildfire swept over them near Yarnell.
Slightly more than a year ago, Prescott dog owner Linda Nichols’s “Sirens and Hydrants” entry was announced on Dec. 18 as the contest winner. Her entry was one of more than 1,000 in the national Beneful competition.
Nichols, accompanied by her constant companion, Callie, a Queensland-shepherd mix, told the applauding crowd, “It seems like just yesterday when I entered the contest, and now my dog park dream has come true. I speak for everyone in Prescott when I say the Beneful team took my unsophisticated idea and transformed it into a point of pride for the entire community.”
Nichols also praised Arizona Public Service for contributing the land to the city so that what previously had been a piece of fenced-in dirt was now a community park for the entire region.
Only three other communities in the U.S. – one in Georgia, one in Alabama, and one in Pennsylvania – previously had been awarded renovated dog parks by Beneful.
None is as elaborate as the one in Prescott.
Jason Cameron, a renowned New Jersey DIY contractor-designer who was the on-site supervisor for the renovation, said, “This park is amazing – nothing like anything we’ve ever built before. The fire truck play area was modeled after Prescott’s very own old-fashioned fire truck. The fire-hose shaped funnels, the misting fire hydrant elements, the 20,000-square-feet of dog-friendly artificial grass – all inspired by Linda’s creative entry.”
Cameron praised Prescott Parks and Recreation Director Joe Baines and his staff, and the T & H construction company for their expertise in turning his design concepts into reality.
Moronke Tyler, marketing associate for the St. Louis, Missouri-based company, said during her dedicatory comments, “We know from past experience the positive impact the parks have had on surrounding communities. We’re proud to have our newest Beneful Dream Dog Park in Prescott.”
Beneful is owned by Nestle Purina Pet Care Co.
Accepting the park on behalf of the City of Prescott, Mayor Marlin Kuykendall grinned down at the dozens of dogs who had come up to “examine” the raised platform from which he and others were speaking.
“Some amazing memories will be created here for dog-lovers, and I’m sure…” he grinned as he continued, “…everyone here is having a dog-gone good time.” QCBN
By Ray Newton
Quad Cities Business News
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