We were really disappointed that there was not a dog park when we first moved to Fayetteville a few months ago. We moved from Durham where we lived in walking distance of the dog park in Pineywood Park. Phoebe went at least 3 times a week and some weeks in the Summer we went every day.
Finding the Fayetteville dog park is easy if you have the correct address. Most of the press releases had the address number as 355 but I think it was a typo as the address should really be 535 N. Eastern Blvd (directions) which is on a side road right in front of the wastewater treatment plant and across highway 301 from the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. I used Google Maps to make a map of the park.
The park is mostly grass which is nice. The man dog area is about 1.4 acres and has 4 or 5 benches and a fire hydrant doggie water fountain. The small dog area also has its own water fountain. There is another area connected to the large dog area with more benches and more room for your dog to run an play but that area was closed (with a lock even) when we were there. I am not sure why.
Just outside of the fenced in area there are also some tables and benches for those who don't want to venture into the dog area. That is a good idea if you bring your baby and your dog.
We really love the park and wish we had gone earlier (and that it was a little closer to us). My only complaint is there aren't enough poop clean up bags. There was only one trash can by the entrance and a roll of bags sitting on the top of it. People need not have any excuse not to pick up after their pets but with a park that has been open for less than a week there are already some places owners haven't cleaned up after there pets. I even stepped in one when walking to the trash can after cleaning up after my pet. Argh!
(I have also been told there is a dog park on Fort Bragg. The address I found for that is 40 Bastogne Dr but since my wife and I aren't in the military, I don't think we can go on base to use this one.)
And now for some pictures:
The entrance near the botanical gardens
Entrance to the park from the parking lot
The sally port entrance to keep those sneaky dogs from getting out
The fire hydrant watering hole for your thirsty dog
There is lots of seating
And don't forget the rules... especially the one about picking up after your dog!Other Links
- Dog Park a Bowwow Away from Opening (Press Release from the city)
- Bark for a Park MySpace Page
- Bark for a Park on YouTube
- Interview with Judie Stoddard, Chairwoman of the Bark for a Park committee
- Howlin’ good time (Fayetteville Observer, 10/1/08)
- Fayetteville dog park a few barks away (Fayetteville Observer, 8/11/08)
- Fayetteville dog park opens Tuesday (WRAL, 9/24/08)
