Fairfield’s much-anticipated dog park expected to open next month

The new Fairfield multi-use and dog park, which will be called FurField, is anticipated to open in about a month, officials said at last week’s city council meeting.

But the opening is a few weeks after the anticipated schedule because of the wet winter and spring, said Fairfield Parks and Recreation Director Tiphanie Howard.

“We were looking at the end of August, and with our winter and the spring that came, we were looking at November,” Howard said. “I’m happy with our timeline. Considering our winter and our spring, I’m actually really happy.”

COMMUNITY NEWS: Like biking? A new fundraising option will help kids in both Hamilton and Fairfield

Fairfield officials broke ground in October 2018 for the $1.14 million, 6.5-acre multi-use and dog park at 6611 River Road 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.

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 trail head for the planned Great Miami River Trail extension.

The dog park portion will also incorporate 4,100 feet of fencing, which Howard said is the last piece of the park construction.

“With thousands of feet of fencing, it takes awhile to install,” she said.

The dog park is being built on undeveloped, tree-lined land along the Great Miami River, which city spokeswoman Jenny Dexter said the city took as “a blank canvas of land” to create something new.

SCHOOL NEWS: Fairfield schools 32-acre land deal: What does it mean for the district’s future?

Howard said there's "a ton of excitement" around the dog park's anticipated opening. Fairfield's Facebook update post on the dog park earlier this month generated scores of interaction, including 28 shares of the post. The city's post on naming the dog park was almost as popular.

Mayor Steve Miller said the dog park has been on the city’s wish list for more than 15 years, and one amenity residents wanted to see in Fairfield for the past 20 years.

“It’s definitely exciting. there’s a lot of people looking for to it,” said Miller. “It’s going to be a nice amenity for the community.”

Miller said the city’s past pause on the dog park was “there had been a big concern about liability, if something would happen.”

“And since that time you’re seeing more and more of these dog parks open without incident,” the mayor said. “It was a hurdle that had to be over come.”

Howard said at the grand opening, which a date has yet to be set, there will be dog vendors, prizes and giveaways.

About the Author