The new park is named FurField, which was the winning name in a months-long contest held this year, and the dedication is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 6611 River Road.
“We’ve been talking about this for over 15 years, and this is the number one thing people wanted to see for probably for the last 20,” said Mayor Steve Miller at the October 2018 grand opening.
Guests are asked to observe special parking areas and pedestrian entrances to the park for the opening. No parking will be available in the dog park for this event, but will be available in surrounding residential areas and at Marsh Park Lake and the adjoining property at River and Gray Roads. Guests not bringing pets are asked to park at Marsh Park Lake where they’ll have access to a shuttle service.
Police officers will assist with traffic and parking.
Many of the constuction delays were because of the wet winter and spring, which delayed the opening by a few weeks. With a project as large as this new park, Howard said she’s okay with that delay.
“We were looking at the end of August, and with our winter and the spring that came, we were looking at November,” Howard said to the Journal-News in August. “I’m happy with our timeline. Considering our winter and our spring, I’m actually really happy.”
The city broke ground in October 2018 for the $1.14 million, 6.5-acre multi-use and dog park that is part of the property commonly referenced as Black Bottom. The city purchased the land from the gravel-mining company Martin Marietta with a Clean Ohio Grant from the state.
The city invited the public to participate in the naming because “we wanted it to be a community place for people to enjoy with their pets,” said Fairfield spokeswoman Jenny Dexter. It is “a source of community pride.”
Amenities for the park include restrooms, an 800-square-foot pond with a dock and zero-entry edge, multiple fields with a separate small dog play area and shaded gathering spaces.It will also serve as a trailhead for the planned Great Miami River Trail extension. The dog park portion also incorporates 4,100 feet of fencing.
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