Lynchburg is a Top 15 finalist, from an initial field of more than 500 communities nationwide, in the $100,000 PetSafe “Bark For Your Park” contest to build the region’s first off-leash dog park. Thanks to the hard work of both private and public volunteers, Lynchburg has been a top contender—battling for first place with nearby Huntington, W.Va. since voting began on July 13th.
The race has taken on a life of its own, and is a matter of civic pride for the people of our region, who refuse to be bested by our nearby neighbors in Huntington! It’s been a tight race, and we are asking all area residents (and our friends everywhere) to take just a minute daily to vote for Lynchburg between now and Aug. 3. Please vote everyday at www.BarkForYourPark.com and www.facebook.com/PetSafeBrand, now through Wednesday.
Why should you care? Simply put, everyone, even those who don’t own a dog, should be in favor of this kind of public/private partnership that illustrates the good things that can happen when government and citizens make the effort to work together.
The fact that Lynchburg is a top contender indicates locals are ready for a dog park. Why? Because dog parks benefit people just as much as dogs. These parks become important social and exercise hubs adding to the overall quality of life in a region. As the head of Human Resources at a leading Lynchburg company recently said, “It’s things like a dog park that make it easy for a company to ‘sell’ Lynchburg to prospective employees.” Many business leaders agree, and some companies have made Bark For Your Park a company initiative, urging employees to vote for Lynchburg on company time!
Dog parks can increase community appeal to young professionals, senior citizens and anyone for whom the ease of safely exercising their dog and themselves is important. Often these parks have a transformative effect on neighborhoods, sometimes even boosting local real estate values in their immediate vicinity. Residents of Monticello Avenue, where the dog park will be located at Blackwater Creek Athletic Area, endorsed the project during a well-attended community meeting.
As urban growth continues, free space is fast becoming a scarce commodity. Having a fenced-in, dedicated dog park encourages people to take their dogs there for safe, secure and legal off-leash play — rather than letting their dogs roam freely in neighborhoods.
All dogs need off-leash play as part of their development. Happier dogs equate to contented owners, which reduces the incidence of dogs surrendered at local animal shelters. Dog parks also encourage people to communicate across socio-economic boundaries and get some exercise. This part of Central Virginia has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation. Having a dog park helps combat obesity head-on. Additionally, dog parks provide an economic boost to contractors and suppliers, and can become a destination for residents and out-of-town guests, thereby boosting local revenues.
In closing, this project began as a public/private initiative in 2008 when City Council agreed to provide a site if Citizens would raise Capital and ongoing expenses for a dog park. No tax dollars will be used in the construction of the dog park!.The Friends of Lynchburg Dog Park is a 501c(3) organization formed to fundraise and manage the project. This project is a win-win showcasing not only our region’s fiscal integrity, but our innovative approach to fostering dynamic partnerships that meet the recreational demands of our citizens.
Please vote daily through Aug. 3. Contest rules allow each person to vote once per day, per site. The community with the most votes wins. There’s no prize for second place. Voting is worldwide; you don’t need to have a Facebook account to vote on Facebook.
This is not just a vote for dogs, it’s a vote for the Lynchburg community. In such a close race, you just might cast the winning ballot.
Strayhorn is president of Friends of Lynchburg Dog Park, Inc. For more information, visit www.LynchburgDogPark.com
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement