A dedication ceremony for Chillicothe’s recently opened dog park will take place later this month.
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The new park was opened softly to the public in late September and its dedication ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd, according to Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Manager, Clint Boggs.
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"Everything inside the park was finished as far as all safety hazards being removed so we felt it was time for the public to start enjoying that space," said Boggs. "We still have a few projects to finish up on the outside of the fence so there could be some temporary closures."
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The park offers residents and their dogs more than one acre of land, enclosed by a five-foot-tall chain-link fence and divided into two sections for small and large dogs. It’s located off Yoctangee Parkway, near the rear of the former Circle K off High St.
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"It just offers a safe space for residents and their canines to enjoy, and area where dogs can roam off-leash," said Boggs. "It's actually against one of our rules to have a dog on a leash while inside the fence. It’s a space for residents and visitors to come together and socialize, and a place for their dogs to socialize as well."
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Clint says there are some rules that dog owners will need to follow when taking their canines to the park.
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"We do have our dog rules posted on the outside, before you enter you can read through those," said Boggs. "Common ones are that your dog has to be up to date on vaccines, has to be currently licensed and it has to be spayed or neutered; pretty generic stuff. There are some etiquette rules listed such has no digging holes and aggressive dogs have to be removed from the park, things of that nature."
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The park will be dedicated to the memory of Catherine and Holden Corzine, the mother and late son of former Ross County Common Pleas Court Judge Jhan Corzine. It will be know at the Catherine and Holden Corzine Memorial Dog Park.
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"Mr. Corzine and his family made a large donation to the park and reserved the naming rights," said Boggs. "He got to name the park whatever he wanted and he decided to name it after his mother, and late son."
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Clint said the dedication ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. with words from Mr. Corzine and local Chillicothe leaders.
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"The dedication ceremony will consist of speakers," said Boggs. "Mayor Feeney will speak and Parks and Rec Director Bill Bonner will also speak. And of course Mr. Corzine will have a few moments to share his story. Our large donors will also be setting up tables and they plan on giving away free knick-knacks and doggy treats. They'll also have some pamphlets available on what they represent. The Ross County Humane Society will also be on hand, as will the Friends of the Chillicothe Dog Park, which is the committee that helped form and get this park underway."
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The end price for the dog park was projected at around $150,000 and Clint says it’s expected that the finished park will come in a little below that figure, at around $145,000. The funds for the park were obtained through Chillicothe City Council’s appropriation of $70,000 to the Parks and Rec Capital Fund. An additional $80,000 was raised through local residents and organizations.
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There’s a remaining balance yet to pay and the city is still accepting donations. If you’d like to make a donation to the Chillicothe Dog Park, simply contact the Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Department at 35 S. Paint St. at 740-772-5626. You can also email Clint Boggs at clint.boggs@chillicotheoh.gov