By Katie Woodall
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Almost a year after plans for a dog park were unveiled, lack of funding still keeps the city from starting the groundwork.

Organizers presented plans for a dog park for Jonesboro at a late March 2016 meeting, after a group of citizens approached Mayor Harold Perrin and Parks and Recreation Director Wixon Huffstetler with the idea. The park will be located in Craighead Forest Park at Access 6 and be approximately 2 acres large. Huffstetler said the new park will cost nearly $150,000 to build and with no money in his budget for funding, donations for the project will be left up to the citizens.

“The city is going to donate the land. We’re going to do some site work, cutting down trees and getting the ground ready for grass and we’re doing the irrigation. Pretty much the grunt work for it,” Huffstetler said.

One concern voiced by Abby Landers, a local dog owner, remains the lack of awareness being raised for the park and its fundraising.

“I think they would have to put it right under the nose of the average citizen. I didn’t even know there were plans for a dog park at all,” Landers said.

While anyone may donate money, a citizen-led group of individuals has recently been talking with local businesses about sponsorships and major donations for the park. Gary Johnson, one of the citizens involved in talking with local businesses, said they hope to hear back from businesses soon.

Although getting the donations for the park is being left to the citizens, Huffstetler said raising the money can be done quickly.

“This town is so giving with projects like this. Personally, I think they can get the money raised by the middle of summer. We might be able to start the project this year,” Huffstetler said.

For more information on the dog park plans, visit www.jonesboro.org/449/Dog-Park-Information.

(NOTE: Graphic rendering courtesy of the Jonesboro Parks and Recreations Department)