Arkadelphia residents gathered Wednesday, April 24, 2024, for a noon celebration to formally open the Barkadelphia Community Dog Park.
The midday occasion drew a crowd of greater than 60 of us, a number of of whom introduced alongside their canine companions for the grand opening. All dogs seemed to be on glorious conduct — we heard one canine let loose a howl because the twister sirens had been examined at their standard time.
The fenced and gated 3.5-acre canine park at 1501 Millcreek Drive was the mission of a Leadership Clark County class. Participants of the category recognized the mission from a listing of neighborhood wants outlined within the 2007-published Clark County Strategic Plan.
Before reducing the ribbon to have a good time the official opening, remarks had been heard from Leadership contributors Catherine Plyler, Nathan Campbell and Lisa Jaskey, in addition to from Mayor Scott Byrd.
Rather than handing over a conventional “key to the park”, the Leadership group offered the mayor with an enormous doggy bone to commemorate the occasion.
Fundraising for the park started in 2019 however hit a snag when there was an instantaneous want to handle flooding on the Humane Society of Clark County. More hurdles would come because the Covid-19 pandemic slowed progress.
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But the canine park mission would in the end prevail. The Leadership Clark County VIII class was capable of elevate some $75,000 to make the park a actuality.
Major donors for the mission are listed on an indication affixed close to the park’s entrance: Taylor King Law, Southwest Auto Collection, Dr. David & Lisa Jaskey, The Ross Foundation, Dr. Wesley & Debbie Kluck, South Central Connect, Dr. Rob and Dr. Gari Rucker, Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance, Southern Bancorp, Clark County Community Foundation, Arkadelphia Rotary Club and Dr. James & Sue Waymack. Other individual donors are listed on the signal, as nicely.
Leadership Clark County ultimately partnered with the City of Arkadelphia to see the mission via fruition. The metropolis purchased the park land from Henderson State University in 2023, then quickly put contractors to work on erecting the fence, sidewalks and play gear.
More work is to be completed on the common new park, Mayor Byrd stated, as improvements-in-queue embrace 10 paved parking spots and drainage enhancements to a low spot within the small canine part close to Mill Creek.
