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Asheville�s newest dog park at Azalea Park officially opened to the public earlier this year. The 140,000-square foot, fenced in dog park is located off Azalea Road, near soccer field #4 of the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex. The dog park has its own parking area providing easy access for pooches and their owners, and is open daily from dawn until dusk.
This is the second dog park in the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation system. The French Broad River Park Dog Park opened several years ago and has been very popular among Asheville citizens and visitors alike who can�t leave home without their best friend. The dog park at Azalea Park now provides a new space in Asheville for dogs and their owners to socialize and relax in a safe, secure environment. The Azalea Park Dog Park was made possible through a generous donation from Chuck Cloninger, an Asheville citizen who �pledged to make a donation for any dog park the city builds.� Eventually, he would like to see at least three more dog parks built in Asheville. Cloninger made his pledge because he believes Asheville �needs convenient places in our community where dogs can safely get exercise without being on a leash.� No doubt, his special interest has something to do with his two black labs, Poncho and Samson. Along with Cloninger, Quality Forward, a volunteer-based green focused nonprofit, and the landscaping and gardening company, B.B. Barnes, helped in acquiring the trees for the dog park. When using the park dog owners should observe general dog park etiquette. Keep an eye out and clean up after their dogs, and dogs must be kept current on shots and licenses. As eager as Fido is to run and play, dogs should be leashed until they are inside the off-leash area. No smoking or eating while in the dog park � litter is tempting, but dangerous treats for dogs. Water is not available so owners should bring their own to keep dogs hydrated. Asheville�s dog parks are an excellent way for dogs and their owners to exercise and socialize in a beautiful, and safe setting - and as Cloninger points out, �this being Asheville, the variety of the dogs at the parks is exceeded only by the variety of the people who own them.� Poncho and Samson have carefully examined the new Azalea Park Dog Park themselves and have pronounced it to be outstanding. For more information about the Azalea Park Dog Park, or any of the other diverse cultural and recreational experiences that the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department has to offer, please call 259-5800 or go to ashevillenc.gov. (Images provided by Wikipedia.)
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