BUCKHANNON — This park is for the dogs! Local pups have plenty to celebrate at Buckhannon’s Riverwalk Park. This Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., older students from the Child Development Center of Central West Virginia will visit the Buckhannon Dog Park to paint a new agility tunnel. The feature is the latest addition to the popular dog park located at the Elizabeth J. “Binky” Poundstone Riverwalk Park at the end of Camden Avenue in Buckhannon. Lowes of Buckhannon, led by Chad Corley, donated paint for the event.

Volunteers who love dogs joined together in 2016 to create the Buckhannon Dog Park, which opened in 2017 with assistance from the City of Buckhannon and West Virginia Wesleyan College. The park provides a safe place for dogs to play off-leash, socialize with other dogs, and practice their agility skills. According to dog enthusiast websites such as Cesar’s Way and The Local Bark, agility training at an obstacle course provides fun exercise for dogs and their human companions. The dog and owner develop a closer bond, providing a greater feeling of well-being. As such, the Buckhannon Dog Park is another community amenity that contributes to the high quality of life reported by residents.

The Buckhannon Dog Park Committee welcomes new volunteers and donations for additional agility features and ongoing maintenance of the park. You can donate to the dog park via their Go Fund Me page, or make a monthly recurring donation along with your utility payment.

It’s easy to get involved and see what’s happening at the Dog Park with the Buckhannon Volunteer Center and the Buckhannon Dog Park FaceBook page.

Interested volunteers and organizations may reach out Lisa Critchfield, Dog Park Committee Chairperson, at buckhannondogpark@hotmail.com or to Sarah Campbell, Volunteer Center Coordinator, by calling City Hall at (304) 472-1651 or emailing sarah.campbell@buckhannonwv.org.  Watch for Buckhannon Volunteer Center news and updates at www.buckhannonwv.org/volunteer.