Canine lovers scheme Detroit's first dog park

In most major metropolitan areas, there are dog parks," says Kales Building sales manager Carly Mys. That's why she and 25 canine-loving residents are in the initial stages of plotting a playground for Detroit's doggie denizens.

Led by Detroiters Mys and Alison Woodburn, the Detroit Dog Park group hopes to build a secured outdoor community center where dogs and owners alike can socialize.

"It is in the initial steps, but we're really excited about it. Who doesn't like dogs?" Mys asks. "Let's have some fun!" 

While the Detroit Dog Park team is looking in several different locations, Mys says they hope to build the dog park in the greater downtown district. They're hoping to secure enough land to build a larger park with benches and secured gating.

So far, interest has been red-hot. They received over 400 responses to a survey they created, and the group hopes to use the results to tailor the park to the community's needs.

What's the cost? While the price of the land can't be estimated yet, Mys says, "based on some of the research we've done, Canton recently opened one. They said that it cost 38 thousand dollars. I don't know what the cost will be yet, but we'll get there."

Researching dog parks in other cities, Mys says it can take up to three years to build a dog park. She and her team hope to work with the community and the city to speed up that process. "I know that the group of people we're working with is very passionate," she says. "And Detroiters rock, and dog owners, too. So we're moving forward."

Find out more about what the Detroit Dog Park is up to on Facebook. If you'd like to get involved, send an email here.

Source: Carly Mys, sales manager, The Kales Building
Writer: Ashley C. Woods