Berkeley County's first dog park is dedicated
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — It's doubtful that any pooch playing in a new dog park dedicated Thursday in Martinsburg will notice how palatial its new playground is with its wrought-iron fencing, elegantly arched entrance and a private security system.
The dog park, separated by a fence down the middle to keep little dogs from big dogs, takes up a 1 1/2-acre chunk of the 4.3 acres of Ambrose Park off Mall Drive, said Steve Catlett, executive director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board.
It cost the park board $175,000 to build the facility next to the children's garden now under construction. The garden is slated for completion early next year, Catlett said.
About $150,000 of the dog park's cost came from a private donation from Travis and Scarlett Hill from the Wurzburg/Hill Family Fund through the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation.
A plaque unveiled following the dedication ceremony displayed the names of Mary Wurzburg Hill, Travis Hill's mother, and Willard F. Wurzburg Jr. and Gretchen Wurzburg, his aunt and uncle.
"I feel so fortunate to have had the parents and aunt and uncle that I did," Travis Hill told the audience. "They instilled respect, high expectations, loyalty and social responsibility in me. Establishing this dog park has been a small way to honor them."
Catlett said the park board was able to keep costs down by doing the work in-house. He said it would have cost about $300,000 if it had been built by contractors.
"There is a craze across the country to build dog parks, especially in urban areas, where many dog owners don't have big yards," Catlett said. "Now, their dogs will be able to do what they cherish most — run and exercise."
Catlett predicts there will be more dog parks built in the more populated areas of Berkeley County.
He said the park board struggled for years to find a better use for Ambrose Park, which until now has been mostly a vacant field.
He said a second restroom will be built later, and lighting will be added so the dog park can be used at night.
"This is another addition to attract people to our community," Martinsburg Mayor George Karos said.
There is an annual $15 fee to use the park, plus $5 for each additional dog.
Dog owners will receive a numerical code to gain entrance to the park.
The park has security cameras and a website that dog owners can log on to to see how busy the park is at any time, Catlett said.
Bags and disposal containers will be available for owners to pick up after their pets.
Bob Deneseus was sitting in the audience holding Toby, his blond, 15-year-old poodle.
"I have my backyard and the city park for Toby," he said. "I'm looking forward to coming here. It's going to be a good place to take your dog and meet your neighbors."
"Dogs teach us to love unconditionally, and maybe, just maybe, in return, we could give them a fun day at the dog park," Travis Hill said as he concluded his remarks.
Correction: This story was updated at 11:34 a.m. Jan. 25, 2023, to correct the spelling of Wurzburg. Herald-Mail Media apologizes for the error.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Berkeley County's first dog park is dedicated
