The first thing you notice about the new Camp Barkeley Dog Park are the trees. It’s also the first thing dogs notice, as they each claim a tree in the unique way of puppies everywhere.
Brownie, a mixed-breed terrier, runs through the trees in the smaller dog area at Camp Barkeley Dog Park on Tuesday.
The city of Abilene’s dog park reopened Tuesday in its new location behind the Pet and Adoption Resource Center, or PARC, which is run by All Kind Animal Initiative and replaced the city’s old animal shelter last month.
A pack of top dogs including Mayor Weldon Hurt, Gary Grubbs and Parks and Recreation Director Lesli Andrews were led by the Chamber of Commerce Red Coats – and at least one real dog – in cutting a ceremonial ribbon to open the new space.
Visitors to the new Camp Barkeley Dog Park bring their puppies through the entrance Tuesday.
The old Camp Barkeley was near the Nelson Park Festival Gardens and while it was a great place for dogs to run off-leash, it lost that appeal for pet owners as temperatures soared into the mid-90s and there was hardly any room was to hide from the merciless sun. .
Isai Leon runs with his Dalmatian-poodle mix Frida, who is accompanied by Layla, a 13-year-old red lacy, as they all visit the new Camp Barkeley Dog Park on Tuesday.
While summer temperatures are beyond the city’s control, the dozens of trees dotting the two enclosures—and the park benches beneath them—at least make for a more pleasant experience for both owners and their pets.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: A new line in life: Camp Barkeley Dog Park reopens behind PARC
