Work is expected to start this summer on a new dog park in Souris.

Planning for the Bark Park began several years ago as supporters have been fund raising and planning for a new dog park.

The group picked up a significant grant in the form of a $20,000 grant through the Province of Manitoba’s Building Sustainable Communities program. “We’ve been at it for a while now and I’m actually a bit late coming to the group when I got involved last fall,” said volunteer Daryl Moreau.

“They've been at it for the past couple of years and now we're on the final push of achieving what was originally planned.”

The Souris Bark Park will be located near the old CP Rail train station along Railway Avenue.

“We’re just in the middle of working to reach a lease agreement with CP Rail. It’s a perfect green space location for the dog park. There’s lot of green space and trees and we’re just trying to hammer out the final details.”

 

Moreau says the site is ideal because it has easy access and it’s easy for everyone to reach whether they’re walking or driving.

“MLA Cliff Cullen was in town Friday to present a cheque for $20,000 and that was fantastic to get that support. It brings our fund raising to $37,000 which covers almost the entire cost of getting the park up and running,” said Moreau.

 

“We have tons of tourists every year and they never know where to take their dogs. We have a beautiful park, and you have to keep your dog on a leash. It’ll be nice to have a free leash space. It’ll be nice to have a place where you can drive up unload your dog and let them go.”