All dogs go to heaven ... but some also go to this church's new dog park
Dogs will soon have room to roam at one local house of worship.
And having free rein in the new dog park at St. John's Episcopal Church just might be their idea of heaven.
The church will host an animal blessing in conjunction with the grand opening and dedication of the new dog park from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at 5401 N Brookline. Three Dog Bakery, Coit's Food Truck, Matt'squerade Face Painting and obedience dog training demonstrations will be featured.
The Rev. Nathan Carr, St. John's vicar, said the dog park project cost about $100,000, with his enthusiastic congregation raising most of the funds. He said the church partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma to finish the project, with the diocese giving a $10,000 grant to go toward the effort. The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, the diocese's bishop, said he was pleased the grant would help the church to connect with its neighbors in a unique way.
Carr agreed.
"It's a Christian mandate to love God, love neighbor," he said. "These are our neighbors. This is our neighborhood."
The fenced park will include benches for pet owners, large rocks and other items for dogs to dodge and play with. Water stations will also be added and a children's playground will be east of the dog park.
Carr said a gravel pathway into the park was deemed too steep for older adults and people with disabilities, but the church has paved the pathway and crews have ensured it is no longer precipitous so that all visitors may easily get to the park and an open-air Peace Chapel created by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Carr said he came up with the idea based on a small park that was opened at All Souls' Episcopal Church when he was serving as a priest in training at the Nichols Hills church. He said All Souls' didn't specifically call it a dog park but the church furnished dog waste bags for visitors to use when necessary and it was frequented by some pet owners and their dogs.
Carr said he thought opening the dog park at St. John's was a way to repurpose church property that was once used as a soccer field and extended play yard for a church-affiliated school that closed several years ago. He has been the church's vicar for about 20 months and has come up with several ideas for the congregation to consider.
"Now we have soccer fields where there is no one playing soccer. We have a playground where there are no first-graders playing," Carr said. "It's a reimagining of space. It's not how do we keep up with the weeds but how do we give back to the community."
He said the congregation of about 200 active members experienced some sadness after the school closed because it had been operating for about 50 years. However, the clergyman said the new dog park is a way to move forward and be good stewards of the property and neighboring community where the Lord has placed the church.
In recent months, the church also has opened its doors to the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Oklahoma chapter's Afghan Resource Center, and a children's music school is also housed on the property.
"Mainline churches tend to think of how do we stop the decline," Carr said. "I would rather just ask, in terms of property and in terms of financial terms or transactional terms, how do you turn what feels like a liability into an asset."
If you build it they will come and play
The vicar said an important aspect of the dog park is how much it will likely be used by neighbors in the nearby Mayfair Hills neighborhood and several apartment complexes. Carr estimated there are about 1,000 residences surrounding the church and many of them may include dog owners. He's hoping these neighbors will bring their canine companions to enjoy the church's dog park.
He said one apartment complex installed a dog run to acknowledge its furry tenants. And the vicar said an official at another apartment complex told him that about 60 percent of his residents were pet owners.
"Those are huge pet numbers, so this community now has a place to flourish," Carr said. "The other evening I just happened upon three individuals walking their dogs right around dinnertime and I thought, 'We're their park.'"
Nancy Jones and her golden retriever Gracie enjoyed the dog park on Tuesday as crews continued working on the project. Jones, St. John's office manager and administrative assistant, said church members have embraced the dog park idea. The church is not far from the intersection of Northwest Expressway and May Avenue.
"The congregation is so excited and completely supportive," she said. "They can't wait to see what he comes up with next."
Metro area Blessing of the Animal gatherings set
Blessing of the Animal gatherings are typically held at many churches in conjunction with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, which is Oct. 4. Several metro area animal blessing events include:
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1901 NW 18, Pet Blessing, 9 a.m. Oct. 1, St. Clare Park across from the church's parking lot. Information: 405-528-0485.
St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 14700 N May, Pet and Stuff Animal Blessing, 10:45 a.m. Oct. 2, furry, fine and feathered friends will be blessed along with children's stuffed animals. The Rev. Joseph Alsay, also will bless Master Sgt. Scott Nelson with the Oklahoma City Police Department and his canine (K9) partner. Nelson is expected to give a short demonstration of his canine partner's abilities. Information: https://www.sac-okc.org/.
Our Lady's Cathedral, 3214 N Lake Ave, Blessing of the Animals, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8, meet in the plaza north of the church building. Information: 405-525-2349.
St. John's Episcopal Church, 5401 N Brookline, Blessing of Animals and Dog Park Grand Opening, 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 9. Information: 405-943-8548.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City's St. John's Episcopal Church to open a new dog park
