Hempfield opens long-awaited dog park

Hempfield Township is going to the dogs — literally.

The Hempfield Parks and Recreation Department cut the ribbon on its first dog park on Saturday.

The long-awaited facility got high marks from dog owners who showed up for an inaugural run.

It includes two fenced-in off-leash runs for dogs 35 pounds and smaller, and two more for larger dogs.

Dog parks — fenced-in areas where dogs may roam off-leash — have been growing in popularity in recent years. Locally, there are dog parks at Twin Lakes County Park and Murrysville Community Park, among others.

Kevin Synan, who was on hand for the grand opening with his grandchildren — Ruby, 4, Ivy, 6, and North Szekely, 8 — gave it a thumbs-up, as they watched their dogs, Liberty and Rocco, frolic in the large dog run. Synan, of Penn Hills, said the children live near the park and likely will visit often with their dogs.

Karen Tate, of Hempfield’s Wendover neighborhood, likewise was impressed. Her dog, Crosby, a high-energy Aussie doodle, frolicked through the dog park, running and rolling with several other dogs.

“This is nice,” Tate said.

Hempfield Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Siko said the $350,000 project is part of an ongoing $1.8 million upgrade at the park.

The dog park, which ran into pandemic-related delays, originally was scheduled to open last fall.

It’s the latest addition to the 94-acre municipal park that includes a host of athletic fields, a 1-mile walking track, lighted tennis courts, an indoor recreation facility and picnic pavilions that are available for rental.

The new dog park, near the ballfields, was funded by the Land & Water Conservation Fund provided by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as well as through fundraising.

Siko said the Hempfield Parks and Recreation Department also plans to bring back live outdoor concerts at the park amphitheater this summer.