Beech Mountain dog park opens to public
Matthew Hundley / (matthew.hundley@averyjournal.com)
Town of Beech Mountain has worked to provide a doggone good
time for dogs and dog lovers with the creation of its dog park positioned in the middle of town.
While the park is still approaching completion, the enclosures have been completed, allowing the
park to open to the public ahead of schedule.
Daniel Scagnelli, director of Parks and Recreation for Town of Beech Mountain, described the park’s various features.
“Our main goal here was to build something unique,” said Scagnelli, as he pointed out the three separate spaces within the dog park. One, quarter-acre lot is fenced in specifically for dogs weighing less than 25 pounds. A second lot, totaling more than one acre, is designated for dogs weighing more than 25 pounds. The large dog enclosure opens into a wide-open area, but winds back into a wooded area, creating separated spaces for the dogs and their owners to spend time together off the leash in town limits. The two enclosures are connected by a separate “corral” where dogs can be introduced before entering the enclosure.
“It allows a buffer between the two parks,” said Scagnelli.
A split rail fence overlaid with additional wire fencing to keep the dogs contained surrounds each enclosure.
Of all the park’s intriguing features, the most exciting may be that use of the park is completely free and open to all comers.
“It is 100-percent open to the public. No cost at all,” said Scagnelli, who also explained that the dog park is designed to incorporate into the town’s trail systems, making it an easy stop along many folks’ typical dog walk.
“We are trying to make the town more pedestrian friendly,” said Scagnelli, pointing out that the dog park is within walking distance of many of Beech Mountain’s shops and restaurants.
While the park is completely open to the public, Scagnelli explained that a few simple rules are in place to keep the park safe.
“We ask that dogs not be left alone, that their owners supervise them, that their shots and vaccinations be up to date and that they play friendly. That is really it,” said Scagnelli.
Even with its open spaces, natural obstacles for the dogs to enjoy and open setting, the dog park is only in phase one. According to Scagnelli, over the course of the coming months, visitors can expect to see the addition of agility obstacles, toys, landscaping, picnic tables and more. Set aside from the enclosed area, the dog park will also include a picnic pavilion, providing a space for group gatherings while dogs play, free from the leash in the neighboring enclosure. Finally, the addition of extensive landscaping and decorative features should make the dog park a destination on Beech Mountain.
More than simply serving dog-walkers as they pass through, however, the new dog park will serve as the scene for a variety of events throughout the year. The most appropriate of which will be B.J.’s Annual Dog Show.
“This venue will host the annual B.J.’s Dog Show this summer, which has been going on for about six years now. It is a wonderful community event, and we encourage folks to bring their dogs and enter them. We are going to use the dog park to host ‘chat and chews,’ a series of informational sessions for folks to learn from industry professionals about some best practices and new products concerning dog care and have a great time with other dog lovers,” said Scagnelli.
B.J. Hughes, the dog show’s namesake and part of the town’s outdoor recreation staff, explained the origin of the show.
“We started it about six years ago. When I was out doing work around the town, I noticed just about everyone has a dog, so I thought the dog show would be a good thing and it has been a big success,” said Hughes. “A lot of people on the mountain work hard all winter to train their dogs to do tricks, we had one last year that rode a skateboard.”
Daniel Scagnelli, director of Parks and Recreation for Town of Beech Mountain, described the park’s various features.
“Our main goal here was to build something unique,” said Scagnelli, as he pointed out the three separate spaces within the dog park. One, quarter-acre lot is fenced in specifically for dogs weighing less than 25 pounds. A second lot, totaling more than one acre, is designated for dogs weighing more than 25 pounds. The large dog enclosure opens into a wide-open area, but winds back into a wooded area, creating separated spaces for the dogs and their owners to spend time together off the leash in town limits. The two enclosures are connected by a separate “corral” where dogs can be introduced before entering the enclosure.
“It allows a buffer between the two parks,” said Scagnelli.
A split rail fence overlaid with additional wire fencing to keep the dogs contained surrounds each enclosure.
Of all the park’s intriguing features, the most exciting may be that use of the park is completely free and open to all comers.
“It is 100-percent open to the public. No cost at all,” said Scagnelli, who also explained that the dog park is designed to incorporate into the town’s trail systems, making it an easy stop along many folks’ typical dog walk.
“We are trying to make the town more pedestrian friendly,” said Scagnelli, pointing out that the dog park is within walking distance of many of Beech Mountain’s shops and restaurants.
While the park is completely open to the public, Scagnelli explained that a few simple rules are in place to keep the park safe.
“We ask that dogs not be left alone, that their owners supervise them, that their shots and vaccinations be up to date and that they play friendly. That is really it,” said Scagnelli.
Even with its open spaces, natural obstacles for the dogs to enjoy and open setting, the dog park is only in phase one. According to Scagnelli, over the course of the coming months, visitors can expect to see the addition of agility obstacles, toys, landscaping, picnic tables and more. Set aside from the enclosed area, the dog park will also include a picnic pavilion, providing a space for group gatherings while dogs play, free from the leash in the neighboring enclosure. Finally, the addition of extensive landscaping and decorative features should make the dog park a destination on Beech Mountain.
More than simply serving dog-walkers as they pass through, however, the new dog park will serve as the scene for a variety of events throughout the year. The most appropriate of which will be B.J.’s Annual Dog Show.
“This venue will host the annual B.J.’s Dog Show this summer, which has been going on for about six years now. It is a wonderful community event, and we encourage folks to bring their dogs and enter them. We are going to use the dog park to host ‘chat and chews,’ a series of informational sessions for folks to learn from industry professionals about some best practices and new products concerning dog care and have a great time with other dog lovers,” said Scagnelli.
B.J. Hughes, the dog show’s namesake and part of the town’s outdoor recreation staff, explained the origin of the show.
“We started it about six years ago. When I was out doing work around the town, I noticed just about everyone has a dog, so I thought the dog show would be a good thing and it has been a big success,” said Hughes. “A lot of people on the mountain work hard all winter to train their dogs to do tricks, we had one last year that rode a skateboard.”