Corowa Dog Lovers members are looking forward to exciting new upgrades to the Ball Park off-leash dog area which will give dogs a variety of new play options as well as a new shade structure for their owners.
Photo by
Ian Johnson
Dog lovers across Federation Council are getting excited as their pooches’ new adventure playground nears completion, with an added shady bonus for the owners as well.
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Dot Colman, secretary for Corowa Dog Lovers, was on site at the Ball Park off-leash dog park last Thursday as works continued to provide valuable upgrades to the facility to give dogs and their owners a safe place to run about and socialise.
“We’re excited to be getting these updates, they’re so important for the community,” Dot said.
“It's like an adventure playground for dogs; they've got a sand pit, a tunnel with the mountains so they can run over and under, and we've got native plants that are tough and can take dogs.
“It's important for dogs to have places where, if play gets a bit hectic, they can duck in somewhere or behind a tree and have a little refuge, and then they can come out again when they’re ready.”
Federation Council has been working with Corowa Dog Lovers, along with local Corowa business Rivergum Dirt Works, to bring about the upgrades, donating materials, such as mulch, logs and boulders, to make the project possible.
Jules and Roy Heran from Rivergum Dirt Works moved to Corowa from the Northern Territory about two years ago and have been providing the labour for the new adventure playground for dogs at Ball Park.
Photo by
Ian Johnson
With Jules and Roy Heran from Rivergum providing the manpower the pooch playground has come along quickly.
As part of the project, Corowa Lion’s Club and Corowa Men’s Shed have been working together with Blaze Naughtin from Naubro to build the new pergola at the west end of the complex, providing vital shade for dog lovers that use the park.
The work is funded by donations, sponsorships, fundraising and a Federation Community Grant, and is a great example of community spirit.
Corowa Lion’s Club and Men’s Shed members Brendan Christy, Jeff Wenden, Stuart Whisson and Lyn Fredericks are building the new pergola with the assistance of Naubro’s Blaze Naughtin.
Photo by
Ian Johnson
Lyn Fredericks, who volunteers for both the Lion’s Club and the Men’s Shed, said the pergola will be similar to the one at the Lion’s Club.
“It’s a cantilever type design,” Lyn said.
“We’ll pour the slab and set the posts today, and then we’ll be back in a couple of weeks once the concrete has cured to put the rest together.”
Regular park user Alana Strang said it's wonderful to have a space where you can completely relax and don't have to be watching for people on bikes and is looking forward to the upgrades being completed so she can bring her dogs Dash, Matani, and Teddy to use it.
“It’s a wonderful place to have them socialise,” Alana said.
“Teddy was a rescue that I got late in life, and as a nine-year-old he was extremely dog reactive; he's had a shocking attack at some stage in his life.
“Now he's dealing with big dogs that he’s never seen, and this space has helped him to realize he's not going to be attacked by every dog he sees.
“He's able to enjoy this late life experience, which is just wonderful.
“I love it, because when I first moved here, I kept asking, ‘Where's the dog area?’, and looking for a fenced area, and we didn't have one.
“For me, particularly as an older person, it's wonderful.”
The pergola currently under construction at the Ball Park off-leash dog area will provide shade for dog lovers that they currently don’t enjoy.
Photo by
Lynn Fredericks
Corowa Dog Lovers expect the new park upgrades, which are part of an ongoing development plan, to be finished on May 25 with the completion of the pergola.
An official opening and naming ceremony will be held on September 12.
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