A website dedicated to helping humans care for dogs named Lowndes Recreation Soccer Complex Bark Park one the top 50 dog parks in the United States.
Located along Seventh Avenue North, near the intersection of Third Street North, the park was ranked No. 40 on the list. It is also the only Mississippi park on the list.
The website happydoggo.com had this to say about the park: “This is a recreational ballpark where there is plenty of human activity. As long as your dog is up to date on all its shots, you can bring your pooch here for a bit of fun. There’s a fenced-in area where you can let your doggo roam off-leash and play with the other dogs. This is a great area to play fetch, simply run around, and tire out for your pooch for the night.”
The website said the bark park made the list because of its sense of community and the many positive reviews online.
The recognition was a surprise and also an honor, said Lowndes County Recreation Manager Roger Short. He attributed much of the park’s success to the dog owners who help keep the park clean by picking up litter and other items left behind by their pets.
The park was originally built closer to Third Street North in 2014, but it was moved to its current location in November 2020.
The current site sits on about three-quarters of an acre and is divided into two sections. One side is for small dogs and one is for larger dogs.
Each section has a queue area where owners can unleash their dogs. Each side features water fountains with dog bowls, fire hydrants, a hill, benches, trees and a sign shaped like a hoop to jump through identifying the park.
Ken Hargett visits the dog park with his German Shepherd, Baron.
“That man is the sheriff,” Hargett said of Baron. “He makes them all behave. When he barks, everybody gets in line.”
Hargett is part of a Facebook group, Columbus Dog Park Play Dates. About 165 members write posts to set up play times for their pets. It can also be a social time for the dog lovers.
“We use that Facebook page to coordinate, so we can be down here together,” he said. “So we don’t come down here and miss each other.”
George and Kathy Goodwin came to the park with her granddogs Mags and Mila, both chocolate labs, and their own dogs, Jasper and Bobo.
The couple used to travel with their dogs and thinks the Columbus park is one of the best ones they’ve been to.
“We love it,” Kathy Goodwin said as Jasper ran along a fence that splits the sides of the park with Baron. “It’s got shade. It’s got trees. And the dogs all seem to get along.”
The soccer complex dog park was built so downtown residents could exercise their dogs with more than just a few walks along Columbus’ streets.
“It’s just a great place where our dogs can exercise. Where a lot of us live, we don’t have a lot of space at our houses,” Hargett said. “So we come out here several times a week just for that.”
The soccer complex park is one of two within Columbus city limits that caters to canine residents. The other is in Propst Park.
When the soccer complex park was moved to its current location, Short got some help from Columbus light and water department. The city agency donated four fire hydrants to entertain the dogs, two of which sit in each enclosure.
Short noted that they currently don’t have any plans to modify the park. During the interview, Short asked the visitors if there is anything they’d like to see added to the park. They all said they liked it the way it is.
For the rest of Happy Doggo’s list of the top 50 dog parks in the United States, visit https://happydoggo.com/dog-parks/
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