Barkadelphia Dog Park celebrated with official opening

Arkadelphia residents gathered Wednesday, April 24, 2024, for a midday celebration to officially open the Barkadelphia Community Dog Park.

The noon event drew a crowd of more than 60 folks, several of whom brought along their canine companions for the grand opening. All dogs appeared to be on excellent behavior — we heard one dog let out a howl as the tornado sirens were tested at their usual time.

The fenced and gated 3.5-acre dog park at 1501 Millcreek Drive was the project of a Leadership Clark County class. Participants of the class identified the project from a list of community needs outlined in the 2007-published Clark County Strategic Plan.

Before cutting the ribbon to celebrate the official opening, remarks were heard from Leadership participants Catherine Plyler, Nathan Campbell and Lisa Jaskey, as well as from Mayor Scott Byrd.

Rather than handing over a traditional “key to the park”, the Leadership group presented the mayor with a giant doggy bone to commemorate the event.

Fundraising for the park began in 2019 but hit a snag when there was an immediate need to address flooding at the Humane Society of Clark County. More hurdles would come as the Covid-19 pandemic slowed progress.

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But the dog park project would ultimately prevail. The Leadership Clark County VIII class was able to raise some $75,000 to make the park a reality.

Major donors for the project are listed on a sign affixed near the park’s entrance: Taylor King Law, Southwest Auto Collection, Dr. David & Lisa Jaskey, The Ross Foundation, Dr. Wesley & Debbie Kluck, South Central Connect, Dr. Rob and Dr. Gari Rucker, Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance, Southern Bancorp, Clark County Community Foundation, Arkadelphia Rotary Club and Dr. James & Sue Waymack. Other individual donors are listed on the sign, as well.

Leadership Clark County eventually partnered with the City of Arkadelphia to see the project through fruition. The city bought the park land from Henderson State University in 2023, then soon put contractors to work on erecting the fence, sidewalks and play equipment.

More work is to be done at the popular new park, Mayor Byrd said, as improvements-in-queue include 10 paved parking spots and drainage improvements to a low spot in the small dog section near Mill Creek.