Area dog parks offer a safe space for dogs to run unleashed without fear of them getting into traffic.
It was a hot afternoon Sunday, June 27, with only a few members of the Augusta Georgia Corgis using the small dog side at Riverside Park in Evans for the group’s “pool pawty.”
A couple of plastic kiddie pools provided a space for the pups to cool down.
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“People leave them here,” said Amanda Duffy, who organizes the group. She’d brought a pool with her, but she didn’t need it because two pools were already there.
Bentley was one of the first corgis to jump into the pool and make himself comfortable in the blistering sun. Other dogs were a little wary of the plastic pools and had to be helped into the water.
The group has regular outings for members’ furry companions and rotates them among the dog parks in the area, according to Duffy.
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Savannah Epps, whose corgi is Bentley, said she likes the size of the Riverside Park. The area is divided in half with space for dogs weighing more than 25 pounds on one half of the park with the other section for dogs under 25 pounds.
Riverside also offers a few trees and some shade as well as a covered area with tables, which appealed to Epps and other corgi owners gathered Sunday.
Riverside provides plenty of space to run, and the pups can bark to their heart’s content, she said. Barking can be a problem at the Evans Towne Center Park, 7016 Evans Towne Center Dr., if any type of event is happening at the nearby amphitheater.
Grovetown’s Goodale Park has a dog park, which is convenient for Colin Laudino, who owns Gizmo, but it can be hard to get to, he said.
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Fire fighter Jim Duffy said Goodale Park is a good place for his dogs Petunia Blossom and Gemma Ellyn, also known as PB and Jelly. He likes the giant fire hydrants located in the park. The park also has some agility equipment.
Other area dog parks include one located at Pendleton King Park, 1600 Troupe St., Augusta, and in North Augusta on Riverside Boulevard.
Pendleton King’s Bark Park has agility equipment set up at the park. Opened in 2009, the Bark Park was funded through hydrangea sales, according to the Pendleton King Park website. Special event such as Barktoberfest and Woofstock have been held there in the past.
North Augusta’s bark park is located near the Greenway and offers a fenced area.
Jim Duffy said parking is an issue in North Augusta, and Amanda Duffy said to be sure to take bug repellent when going to North Augusta.
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Owners said they would love water options for their pups.
“I wish there was an off-leash location near the water,” said Amanda Duffy, who added most area parks on the water require dogs to be on a leash.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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