Downtown dog park breaks ground, plans for spring opening

Working, living, or visiting in the downtown area and need an open green space to take your dog? The Downtown Dog Recreation Area will be coming to the east end of Downtown soon. 

The Park broke ground this month after a long and difficult start - the project initially began three years ago with a budget of $325,000 - but after the economy faltered the project was put on hold. But a new project manager, Craig Beachler, and a revised budget, have downtown in line to finally get an off-leash dog play area.

The recreation area for dogs and their owners has been funded and supported by local companies, residents, and the City of Cincinnati. The City and the State of Ohio donated the land  along with ten trees for the park. The new budget of $75,000 has been supported largely by a $50,000 gift from Procter & Gamble, and $7,000 from the private funds of supporters. The Downtown Residents Council raised 76 percent of the park's annual budget but continues to look for funding from local animal lovers.

"For me and for the dogs, it is all about raising more money so we can do this right," Beachler said. "The goal is to spread the word and have peoples' love of dogs play out through their financial donations."

When Beachler moved to downtown Cincinnati in 2006, he started a pub-crawl, "Bars Around the Block," to spread the word about the recreation area. The pub crawls have raised $7,000 alone - Beachler will host the sixth crawl this February with all proceeds going towards the dog park. Beachler emphasized the importance of liability and trust with the donations.

"I publish the results so that the people who come and contribute know exactly where their money goes. I have accountability in terms of the public and getting the project done and spending the money in the right way," Beachler said.

Once completed in 2011, Beachler thinks the park will be widely used by new and old residents.

"We wouldn't do it if we didn't think people were going to use it," Beachler explained. With the help of donations and volunteer labor, Beachler loves seeing people come together with the common goal to accomplish something good for the city.

"We are helping create a city where people want to live and don't want to leave. It is a part of the rebirth of downtown Cincinnati," Beachler said.

Writer: Lisa Ensminger
Photography by Scott Beseler.