Manassas Park Dog Park to Open Next Month

Manassas Park's first off-leash dog is slated to open in July, Catherine Morretta, director of the city's department of parks and recreation said.

 The park, which has been in the city's plans for many years, will be located at . Moretta said it will feature both a small and large dog run.

 The opening of the park, Morretta said, has been delayed by bad weather; the recent rains and “oppressive heat.”

 In the past year there have been several fundraisers for the park including a talent competition dubbed, "American Fido," a costume party for pets and owners and the holiday "Santa Paws" event where dogs got a chance to have their pictures taken with the big man himself. Morretta said that fundraising for the park is ongoing.

 “All dollars raised for the dog park go towards maintaining upkeep and our goal to make a permanent dog park in Manassas Park,” Morretta said in an email.

The dog park is open to everyone, including non-Manassas Park residents, Manassas Park Department of Park and Recreation Aquatics Director Kim Baker said in an earlier report.

The new park does have some basic ground rules that those with two and four legs must follow:

• Dogs must be 4 months or older

• No female dogs in heat can enter the park
• All dogs will need current tags/vaccinations (distemper, parvo and rabies)
• All dogs must be licensed
• Unruly dogs will be asked to leave
• Owners must clean up after their dogs