Bella, Teddy, Fergus and Misty had the time of their furry lives when they had a chance to run around the area soon to be Kyabram’s first off-leash dog park on Thursday, June 26.
It was an inaugural play session for the pooches, who were joined by Campaspe Shire councillors John Zobec and Luke Sharrock, along with Kyabram residents Vonda Meloni and Renee Pichler, to christen the park ready for construction.
The Kyabram off-leash dog park will be built inside Edis Park and will feature a quiet area for timid dogs, a new artificial grass area, landscaping, garden bed and shelter, along with new turf for dogs to stick their paws into, according to the concept plans.
It’s been a long time coming for former Kyabram Development Committee member Ms Meloni, who was the co-initiator of the petition for a dog park in Kyabram before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I love it so far,” she said while watching the dogs run around the enclosed area.
“It’s important for dogs to have their space … it’s great to see Ky dogs get their own space.”
Many years ago, the park was sold to Kyabram Council by Clara Beatrice Edis, after whom the park is named.
It was sold for a token value, under the condition that a park would be established “for the benefit of future generations”.
A plaque at the front of the park reads: “Clara loved Australia’s diverse, and, in many cases, unique collection of trees and birds and this land was sold on condition that for every tree which fell down or was cut down a similar species be planted. Her generous act has given pleasure to countless walkers and dog lovers.”
Internal project manager Mick Mahady said works at Edis Park were set to pick up in the coming weeks, after completion of Tongala’s dog park at Brose Reserve.