[Photo story] Lebanon city unveils dog park

The City of Lebanon held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new dog park in Coleman Memorial Park under clear skies Saturday morning.

The park includes a gated 40,373-square-foot area for dogs over 30 pounds and a 15,356-square-foot area for dogs under 30 pounds.

“This dog park is about much more than a place for dogs to run and play, it is about creating another gathering place for our community,” Mayor Sherry Capello said Saturday. “It’s a place where neighbors can meet neighbors, friendships can form, and people can enjoy the outdoors alongside their four-legged family member.”

The park, the first of its kind in Lebanon County, allows dogs to roam and play with other dogs off-leash in a gated area. Capello said many city residents do not have large yards and so might not have other opportunities for their dogs to run free.

“For our dogs, it provides a safe, dedicated space where they can exercise, socialize, and simply be dogs,” said Capello. “For their owners, it offers an opportunity to get outside, stay active, and enjoy all that Coleman Memorial Park has to offer.”

For now, the park is only accessible to Lebanon city residents due to high levels of interest, Capello reported in May. However, after 30 days, the city plans to open enrollment to non-city residents.

City residents can purchase an annual pass on the city website for up to two dogs for $30. Non-city dog owners will pay $45 annually. Additional dogs will cost $10 per year.

The city first broke ground on the project in April of last year, with funds from a $102,000 DCNR grant, $175,000 in ARPA funds, budgeted capital reserve funds, and donations.

Though officials originally hoped the project would be completed last June, undesirable weather conditions and construction delays pushed back its completion.

The park was constructed on the former site of Gingrich Memorial Pool, which was demolished in 2021 due to increasing maintenance and operating costs and declining attendance.

After the pool’s closure, Capello said, the city looked to residents to hear what recreation facilities they wanted to see.

“The idea for this project came directly from our residents,” she said. “When we asked the community what improvements they would like to see in our parks, one request rose to the top time and time again: a dog park. Today, we are proud to deliver on that vision.”

The dog park is one of many additions made to Coleman Memorial Park in the last few years, including pickleball courts and a new walking trail unveiled last year. Last week, the park announced a push for arboretum accreditation, having completed the first leg of a tree inventory.

“Parks are among the most important public amenities a community can provide,” said Capello. “They improve quality of life, encourage healthy lifestyles, and create opportunities for people of all ages to connect with one another. Today’s opening adds another unique recreational amenity to our city and further strengthens Coleman Memorial Park as a destination for residents and visitors alike.”