IONIA — Ionia recently celebrated the grand opening of its long-awaited dog park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the southwest corner of Adams Street and Steele Street.
Ionia Councilmembers, Mayor John Milewski and the Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce officially opened the park to the public during the ceremony, according to a community announcement.
“We’re excited to open this fantastic new dog park as a space for residents and their pets to enjoy together,” Milewski said. “It’s a great example of the city’s commitment to enhancing quality of life through thoughtful, community-focused amenities.”
The dog park provides about three-quarters of an acre of fenced doggie playground with two separate areas — one for smaller dogs and another for larger breed dogs. Visitors will enjoy a variety of amenities, including dog agility equipment, drinking fountains for both pets and their humans, shaded seating areas, benches, and waste stations to help keep the park clean and enjoyable for all.
A gravel parking lot located directly south of the park provides convenient access for visitors. The lot will be paved during the initial phase of the Steele Street Park Complex, anticipated for construction in 2026.
Planning for the park began in 2021. The project was made possible through a $375,478 grant, matched by $85,792 in city funds.
The city thanks the many community members, organizations and partners who supported development of the dog park and encourages all to utilize this fun, new resource, according to the announcement.
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This article originally appeared on Ionia Sentinel-Standard: Ionia celebrates grand opening of dog park with ribbon-cutting
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