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http://heraldargus.com/archives/ha/display.php?id=387500

Danielle Gingerich, 1-866-362-2167 Ext. 13860 , dgingerich@heraldargus.com


Dozens gather for opening of dog park, dedication of trail at Creek Ridge County Park



LA PORTE COUNTY -- It was easy to see Saturday morning that both Nala and Simba were having a good time.

While Nala sat in a rain puddle beneath the sun, brother Simba panted heavily while taking a break from chasing other dogs around Creek Ridge County Park.

The animals -- both Labrador retrievers -- were allowed to run freely Saturday thanks to the opening of the no-leash “Bark Park” at Creek Ridge.

About 30 community members, including La Porte County Prosecutor Robert Beckman, State Sen. Jim Arnold, D-Michigan City, and members of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan City Police, attended the grand opening of the dog park and the dedication of Norm Pahs Memorial Trail Saturday morning.

Dog owner Randy Ocker, of Michigan City, sat on a bench as several dogs around him fetched sticks and chased each other.

“It looks like they’re having a great time,” Ocker said. “There’s a lot of room to run. It gives them a lot of exercise.”

Whitey -- dripping wet from playing in a puddle -- sat next to his owner, Dennis McGrath.

“He’s doing great,” the Michigan City resident said of his pet. “They can socialize with the dogs.

The county prosecutor’s office financed the park, which cost $10,000 to build, with money collected from speeding tickets handed out in the county. Another $10,000 will be used to build a similar facility next summer at the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter.

The remaining $40,000 was used to resurface the 20-year-old paved trails at Luhr County Park.

Beckman thanked the crowd for allowing his office “to put some of your dollars back in the park system for all of God’s creatures big and small.”

While dogs frolicked in the Bark Park, God’s two-legged creatures biked, walked and inline skated down the newly paved “Pahs Trial.”

The Coolspring Township Board and Trustee funded the trail in memory of the late Norm Pahs, a former county commissioner and member of the township board.

The new trail forms a half-mile loop around the park.

Pahs’ daughter, Norma Daugherty, and other family members took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“He would be so pleased with this,” Daugherty said of her father.

La Porte County Parks Superintendent Tim Morgan shared fond reminisces of Pahs.

“Norm was always very supportive of the county parks,” he said. “I’m very appreciative for all that Norm did for serving our community.”

[JHeath]

I can't wait to visit this new park with my beagle, Charlie! He'll just love this!

[Roger Kaputnik]

I have seen Bark Park in Indpls, it is great--if you have a dog. And if you do not have a dog, it is great to have them confined away from ya'.

[Max Main]

I bet the grass is plenty green on that side of the fence