(La Porte, IN) - A splash pad for dogs is going in at a local dog park.

 

The park open to the public is at the Jane Bernard Animal Adoption Center along Indiana 2 next to the fairgrounds.

 

Carey Garwood is with Bethany Lutheran Church, which spearheaded a fund raising drive to add the slash pad for dogs and other improvements being made to the dog park.

 

“A splash pad for dogs is a new thing, a new concept. There aren’t a lot of them around our area,” she said.

 

Garwood said a $50,000 state matching grant along with an equal sum of funds from the church congregation and other sources made paying for the work possible.  There were also donations of time and labor.

 

Other improvements include painting old wood benches and new trash receptacles.

 

The splash pad for dogs surface will be painted soon and artificial turf laid at the entrance to the splash pad for dogs.  She’s hoping the improvements at the dog park will lead to more visitors and higher adoption rates at the shelter.

 

Garwood said there’s still a few weeks of work yet to be done at the park but hopes the splash pad for dogs is ready to be turned on before the weather becomes too cool.

 

Anyone wanting to lend a hand at finishing the job can go to
https://bethanylaporte.breezechms.com/form/4ac135

 

On Friday, a special meet and greet is planned to welcome new shelter director Emilie Levesque, who’s replacing Eric Hayes whose moving to Texas.

 

There will be light refreshments during the meet and greet from noon until 3 p.m.