Wednesday, November 29, 2023
www.thepapersonline.com
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . 2➤ Nappanee Area News . . . . . . .8 Miracles at Main & Market . . . . . . . . 9 Vol. 53, No. 23
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
Dog parks allow Fido to have safe, outdoor fun
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
PLAYING FETCH — Ryan Cummins is shown with his dogs, Ally and Montana at the Nappanee Dog Park. The dog park, located on CR 7, opened in 2011. Photo by Phoebe Muthart.
NEW DOG PARK — Shown is a photo rendering of a potential new dog park coming to Warsaw. The yellow represents the dog park areas and also shows the 1/4 mile trail around the perimeter of the site. The project would be done in phases. Photo provided by Warsaw City Planner Justin Taylor and Warsaw Rotary Club.
By PHOEBE MUTHART Staff Writer Dog parks are popular with canine lovers in and around Kosciusko County and one located in Nappanee . A new dog park is also being proposed for Warsaw .
New Dog Park A new dog park is possibly coming to Warsaw’s west side . The project is a Warsaw Rotary Club endeavor that began with the purchase of land originally owned by Indiana American Water . Construction for the project would be done in phases . The club opened Rotary Park on West Market Street, Warsaw, this year and has decided to build a dog park adjacent to it . “We saw this as another opportunity to continue giving back to the community by bringing in another new, vibrant place on the west side of Warsaw to socialize,” said Club President William Smith . The new dog park would provide two separate enclosed dog park areas, per dog size . The project also includes a 1/4 mile trail surrounding the outside of the fences as a place for people to walk with or without their dogs .
As a way for all dogs to remain safe, there will be some kind of membership fee in order to ensure all dogs are registered . Warsaw City Planner Justin Taylor said the dog park would likely be maintained by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department once it is built . “With all of the housing going in downtown, this park will provide another green space close by for people to enjoy,” said Taylor . The club has estimated the project to cost around $200,000 to complete, $30,000 of which will go toward fencing . It has already been granted $3,000 for the project from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and continues to search out funding from different organizations, such as the K21 Health Foundation, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management . “When we commit to a project, we like to involve the whole community and really make it unique for the people who will end up using it . Last time, we had people come out and help us lay bricks . Any contribution will help build the park whether it’s monetarily or physically,” said Smith . Tax-deductible gifts in support of the dog park may be made by credit card online to the Warsaw Rotary Communi-
ty Fund held by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation . Gifts may be made to kcfoundation .org/fundlist . If donating by check, people should make the check payable to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation with “Warsaw Rotary Community Fund” in the memo line and mail or drop it off to 102 E . Market St ., Warsaw, IN 46580 . Nappanee Dog Park Nappanee’s Dog Park is located off CR 7 . Founded in 2011, membership is $30 per calendar year with current certificate of vaccination for rabies, distemper and bordetella . It has two sides: one for larger dogs and one for smaller dogs . Complete details and sign up information are available at nappaneeparks . recdesk .com or call the park office at (574) 773-2112 or visit facebook .com/ NappDogPark . Warsaw Dog Park Rudy’s Dog Park in Warsaw is located at East CR 300 North and North CR 100 East, Warsaw . Rudy’s Dog Park is a leash-free dog park, providing a safe and fun place for dogs and their owners to socialize . Fees are $65, first dog; and $30, second or third dog; memberships are for one year (12 months from the date you join) . Trial memberships are also available . For more information, visit rudysdogpark .org or facebook .com/rudysdogpark, email info@rudysdogpark .org or call (574) 267-8511 .