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Newport to celebrate grand opening of improved dog park June 6 to kick off Pet Appreciation Week


The improved Newport Dog Park will hold its grand opening today as part of Pet Appreciation Week, giving dog owners the opportunity to experience the enhancements to the popular gathering spot for Newport residents and their pets.

Pet Appreciation Week events at the park include the Grand Opening, which is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. Other events include a Small Dog Party on Wednesday, June 9th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Newport Dog Park – under the leadership, fundraising and volunteerism of the Newport Dog Park Committee – was moved from the previous location on Linden Avenue to its new fenced-in home located on a spacious parcel of property directly behind the Newport Branch of the Campbell County Library at 901 E. 6th St.

“The Newport Dog Park is a community development initiative created in cooperation with the City of Newport, East Row Historic Foundation and local residents and businesses,” said Tim Appleton, an East Row resident who chaired the neighborhood’s efforts to develop the park along with key committee members Bill Mackison, Elaine Pearl and Madison Farr. “Our dog park operates 100 percent on donations and fundraising.”

A major donation of $25,000 came from The Newport Foundation along with additional donated in-kind services from the City of Newport. A total of nearly $60,000 has been raised.

Improvements to the off-leash dog park include:

• 450 feet of water line and 810 feet of fencing installed
• Dedicated parking spots in the Campbell County Library parking lot
• 166 cubic yards of mulch as part of landscaping
• Separate small dog area
• Pet-friendly benches
• New water fountain installed, and the existing fountain repainted
• Concrete pathways
• Community walking paths
• Landscaping

Other donations came from National Band and Tag Company of Newport ($5,000), Newport on the Levee and MedVet ($2,500 each), Ron and Monica Gardner ($1,000) and Jeff and Missy Richardson, Audrey Owczarsak, Tom White and NK Stone ($500 each).

The City of Newport’s donated labor and materials include paying for and installing fencing, mulch, pathways, water lines, water foundations and landscaping. The city also re-graded the area while volunteers from the East Row provided labor.

An obelisk will also be installed, donated by Tim Roth of Roth Monument.

Yearly costs to keep the park clean, safe and fun are estimated to be more than $6,000 a year. Donations are accepted via the online donation button at www.eastrow.org.

Supporters can buy personalized bricks at polarengraving.com or on the Dog Park’s Facebook page.

T-shirts are also available, and donations can be made through Paypal.com.

Volunteers are also needed for park maintenance and enhancement, event planning, fundraising and social media and marketing. Learn more about how to volunteer by filling out the online registration from.

“Keeping the park clean and safe for the dogs and humans is a team effort, and that team is made up of volunteers,” Appleton said.

City of Newport


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