Jackson residents and their four-legged furry friends are invited to celebrate the official opening of the City’s first dog park! A ribbon cutting event for Betty’s Dog Park is happening Thursday, July 1 at 11:30 a.m. in the park, which is located at the corner of N. Blackstone and Van Buren streets.
The new park is named after Betty Dahlem Desbiens, a long-time Jackson resident who donated funds to make the park possible. Betty’s Dog Park is fully fenced, with separate areas for big and small dogs to roam free, including sidewalks, benches and picnic tables. A secure fence system will ensure pets do not escape. This pooch paradise makes use of space in Beech Tree Park, a public park that’s been without a use since its award-winning beech tree was removed due to a lightning strike.
The dog-friendly digs is free to use and open to the public. Downtown Jackson has seen a housing boom in recent years, with hundreds of new apartment units added to the area. Located within a short walk from downtown, Betty’s Dog Park will be useful for downtown apartment dwellers and their pets to have ample space for play time.
Mayor Derek Dobies says he’s looking forward to attending the ribbon cutting. “Having a dog park placed centrally in the City makes a lot of sense for our downtown residents and people all over Jackson,” Mayor Dobies said. “This is something the City has wanted to do for a long time, but didn’t have the funds available. I thank Betty for helping make this dog park possible.”
This is a dog-friendly event, but please make sure pets are secured on leashes. The ribbon cutting will be live-streamed on the City’s Facebook page for those who’d like to attend virtually.
