Four-legged furry friends and their two-legged parents will soon have a new park made just for canines to socialize and romp around in. The City of Jackson is announcing the creation of its first-ever dog park! Located at the corner of N. Blackstone and Van Buren streets, Betty’s Dog Park will make use of the existing Beech Tree Park in Downtown Jackson.
Construction on Betty’s Dog Park is planned for spring 2021 and is expected to last six weeks. The new park will be fully fenced, with separate areas for big and small dogs to roam free, including new sidewalks, benches and picnic tables. Beech Tree Park is a public park that’s maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department, but it is currently without a use since its award-winning beech tree was removed due to a lightning strike.
No bones about it, the pooch-friendly park is being made possible by a donation from Betty Dahlem Desbiens. The long-time Jackson resident says she was inspired to help with a dog park project after she saw a man and his dog walking in Beech Tree Park. “I thought ‘How nice it would be for both the owner and dog if that little dog could run and play freely’,” Desbiens said. “A dog park will certainly improve the quality of life for our many Jackson dog owners.”
Parks and Recreation Director Kelli Hoover says her department is thankful for this partnership with a resident. “This is a really exciting project and it’s all thanks to the thoughtfulness of Betty Dahlem Desbiens,” Hoover said.
Danielle Dobies, Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, says the goal of starting a dog park project had hounded the commission for many years. “I am thrilled to see this project come to fruition,” Chairperson Dobies said. “It will be a great addition to the roster of amazing parks in the City, creating a space for us to socialize with our furry friends and further drive community engagement.”
With hundreds of people moving into new apartments in Downtown Jackson with their pets, Mayor Derek Dobies says there’s a growing need to provide dog-friendly digs. “We greatly appreciate this generous contribution to the City,” Mayor Dobies said. “This is just another amenity that will attract people to our community. It’s something that downtown residents and families all over the community can enjoy. I look forward to bringing my pug, Sir Woof, to Betty’s Dog Park.”
