Let’s party: The new dog park features a 1.8m-high perimeter fence, separate sections for big and small dogs, and agility equipment for the energetic puppies.
Pooches, be at the ready — the Princess Park Off-Leash Dog Park officially opened on Thursday, December 16.
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City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe and other community members and representatives gathered at the park on Thursday to open the gates.
“For the people that want to walk their dogs, it gives them a really wonderful space and place to come,” Cr O’Keeffe said.
“Their dogs can run free and do what they need to do and be in a safe environment.”
The dog park, which received $150,000 from the Victorian Government’s Off-Leash Dog Parks Economic Stimulus Program, features a 1.8m-high perimeter fence, separate sections for big and small dogs, and agility equipment for the energetic puppies.
Other amenities include water fountains with attached dog bowls, dog waste bins and sheltered seating for owners.
Greater Shepparton City Council’s acting infrastructure director Tim Zak said he hoped the community enjoyed the space.
“We have already received positive feedback from dog owners who have been visiting the park,” Mr Zak said.
One of the already regular attendees with his whippet Daisy, Norm Kortum, said the park was already a big improvement on the one at Ducat Reserve.
“There’s been a tenfold increase in people and dogs,” he said.
More space to run: Miki Bothwell with Jenna testing out the new agility equipment.
Miki Bothwell agrees.
"The other one was good to just take them and let them run, but this is so much bigger and it’s nice to let them actually get some exercise,“ she said.
Dogs happy, owners happy: Independant candidate for the seat of Nicholls Rob Priestly with Daisy and community member Sharon Moore, who pushed for the dog park to include a dog run.
One feature that community member Sharon Moore asked the council to include was a separate dog run for canines that hadn’t been around other dogs.
“I just want to see bored barking dogs out of backyards,” she said.
“If you’ve rescued a dog and you know nothing about it, you can bring it down and start socialising it through the fence.”
The Princess Park Off-Leash Dog Park is located in the bushland north of the Shepparton Runners Club building at Princess Park, Nixon St, Shepparton.
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