Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

Dogs, owners have new space to roam nearby

The new Bark Park is a welcome addition to the Carolina Forest community.

For many of us with dogs but no fenced yard, this is a life-changing new feature.

The park features two areas, one for large dogs and one for the little guys. It is shaded and fenced in and even offers dog-sized water fountains.

There are hills and open areas for the dogs to run and play; everything was very well thought out by the builders and designers.

I visited the park at 5:30 Thursday evening to get a first-hand experience of the new park and all it has to offer and was surprised to find more than 25 people and just as many pups running around.

Everyone was so friendly and happy to see their dogs in a clean, safe, atmosphere getting much-needed exercise.

Mike Lubensky has lived in Carolina Forest for 4 1/2 years. He doesn't have a fenced yard at his Walkers Woods home so he is thrilled to have the park so close for his 9-year-old dog Sweetie to be able to run and play.

"I am really glad that a park has been built so close to Carolina Forest so that you don't have to drive through Socastee traffic like I did have to, to go to the old Barc Parc at Market Common," he said.

"I am very happy that so many people are already taking advantage of it."

The Bark Park is open to the public, free of charge, from sunrise to sunset.

It is off of U.S. 17 just north of Grissom Parkway, next to the new YMCA. Hope to see you and your dog there.