Sachse Park Pals, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the local park system, recently completed the ultimate Do-It-Yourself- Community Project — off-leash dog park — Scentral Bark.
The organization voted to take on the dog park project in August, 2015 and it has since become a reality.
This project was a grass roots effort started in Sachse and grew to include members of the communities of Wylie, Garland, Murphy and Rowlett. Through various fundraisers, sponsorships and private donations, the group raised more than $20,000 as they sought a private-public partnership agreement for the placement of the park working with the cities of Sachse, Garland and Rowlett.
They received a go-ahead from the Rowlett City Council in Rowlett December 19, 2017, were anxious to kick off the construction of the new dog park.
Residents of Rowlett and neighboring communities got to work to construct “Scentral Bark.” They installed over 100 fence posts, fence mesh and gates, spread new sode and planted trees.
Each of the communities have been generous with donations ranging from a construction supply storage facility and heavy equipment from PAC-VAN in Dallas, Trees from the Loveless Family in Sachse, a pet water fountain from the Fischer Family of Rowlett, to lunch for all volunteers from Chick-Fil-A Rowlett, just to name a few.
The park is now open and being enjoyed by many dogs and their human friends. It is located at 4601 Centennial Drive in Rowlett.
“Seeing so many communities come together and work to enhance our area is such a fantastic sight,” said Sachse Park Pals president Mike Kellam.
The next meeting of the Sachse Park Pals group is April 19 at the Sachse Parks Building, 5560 Highway 78 at 7 p.m.
To find out how to help or for more information, visit https://www.sachseparkpals.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/SachseParkPals/.