Rotary Clubs make Montgomery Dog Park a Reality

Work was recently completed on a new development in downtown Montgomery which will attract new visitors to downtown Montgomery...four-legged visitors to be exact!

With the addition of a public art project, City of Montgomery officials and four local Rotary Clubs are celebrating the completion of Rotary Dog Park which inhabits an existing greenspace adjacent to the parking deck at Montgomery City Hall at the corner of Coosa and Bibb Streets. Development officials chose the site due to its central location, size, treescape and underutilization. The park features mature trees and a large water fountain but also includes brand new infrastructure that includes vinyl fencing, pet fountains, a new drainage system and more.

"The Rotary Dog Park is another welcome addition to our community enhancing the quality of life and adding to the overall vibrancy of our city," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. "Not only do we anticipate Rotary Dog Park enhancing livability downtown for

existing residents, but it will serve to entice future residents who may now more easily envision themselves moving downtown with their pets."

The park culminates a collaborative effort by four local Rotary clubs in Montgomery to serve the local community. Sunrise Rotary Club President Jimmy Hill said, "These clubs and their combined membership chose to partner with the City of Montgomery and convert a section of this park into a dog park, and I say 'chose' because that's what Rotarians do: we choose service over self. This place is going to the dogs...and that's a good thing."

In the future, additional phases of development to the park could incorporate skills and agility training equipment for both large and small dogs. In addition to the equipment, Rotary, with help from a local Gumption Fund grant, commissioned a large mural which extends along the side of the parking deck and features colorful Rotary cogs and the Four-Way test: guiding principles for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships.

The public art project not only increases the visibility of the dog park, but serves as a reminder of the code of ethics for Rotarians worldwide. It's hoped that people can take encouragement from the mural while their pets are enjoying the freedom to run in some grass: all in the middle of a busy downtown.