Pittsburg to host ribbon-cutting ceremony for new dog park and Schlanger Park improvements

The City of Pittsburg will host a special ribbon cutting on Tuesday, October 23, to celebrate enhancements to Schlanger Park. These improvements include the Ronald O. Thomas Dog Park, new pickle ball and basketball courts and a new sensory garden.

“We are thrilled to share the new park amenities with the community and to thank the volunteers and donors who made them possible,” says City of Pittsburg Director of Parks & Recreation Kim Vogel. “These improvements would not happen without the support of the community.”

The Ronald O. Thomas Dog Park was made possible thanks to a generous $50,000 donation from the Ronald O. Thomas Foundation in 2017. The fenced pet playground provides more than 26,000 square feet of play space and features two separate areas for small and large dogs.

The Schlanger Park sensory garden, pickle ball and basketball courts were made possible through donations from the Everybody Plays committee, individual donors and grants, and proceeds from recreation programs and fundraisers. The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas also contributed a $5,600 grant for the basketball goals.

Members of the public and their furry friends are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, October 23, at 4 pm, at Schlanger Park.

Those attending the event with their pets should be aware of the dog park rules:

• Dogs must be current on vaccinations
• Dogs must be supervised by owners at all times
• Agility equipment in the dog park is for dog use only
• The dog park gate must remain closed at all times
• Dogs must be leashed when preparing to leave and once outside the gate
• There is a three-dog maximum per visitor
• Owners are required to clean up after their dogs
• All dogs must be supervised by a person of at least 16 years of age
• No human food or glass containers allowed
• Dogs cannot exhibit aggressive behavior
• No female dogs in heat allowed
• No puppies under four months of age allowed

The City of Pittsburg appreciates the cooperation of citizens in keeping the dog park a safe, fun place for pets and people alike.