About the Dog Park Grant...

Lewis County was recently selected as one of fifteen communities across Tennessee to receive a $25,000 Dog Park Grant from the Boyd Foundation.

Over the last three years, Randy and Jenny Boyd have been donating their personal wealth to make Tennessee the most pet-friendly state in the nation through their "Dog Park Dash" program. During that time, they have awarded $3 million in grants to build 100 different Dog Parks across the state.

While announcing this news, Lewis County Mayor Jonah Keltner reminded residents "This is a 100% fully-funded, private grant from the Boyd family. It is not a government grant, and doesn't cost the county any money to match.

Furthermore, this grant is specifically given to communities from the Boyd Foundation to create Dog Parks. It could not be used for other Parks and Recreational items such as a splash pad or playground equipment."

The new Dog Park will likely be located on one of the county-owned vacant lots along North Oak Street that adjoins Memorial Park, in hopes to beautify that area and make it into a dog-friendly zone that people of all ages can enjoy with their canine friends.

The proposed design for the Dog Park includes new fencing and landscaping, as well as dog-friendly equipment such as a jump over beam, a small tunnel, hoop ring and ramp, along with a pet waste station and some park benches.

Mayor Keltner concluded his announcement by thanking Park Director Randall Hinson, County Commissioners, and the Park Board for their support of this project, as well as Kayla Baxter of the South Central Tennessee Development District for writing the successful grant.