Dog park one of a kind in Manitoba

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This article was published 21/07/2016 (2807 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dog park that’s the first of its kind in Manitoba has opened in Niverville.

The Niverville Dog Park features activity stations in a fenced-in field for dogs to use for exercise, training and fun.

Barry Piasta, founder of the Niverville dog park committee, first came up with the idea for the park last year.

ADRIANA MINGO | THE CARILLON
Barry Piasta shows off one of the activity stations at the Niverville Dog Park.
ADRIANA MINGO | THE CARILLON Barry Piasta shows off one of the activity stations at the Niverville Dog Park.

At the time, Niverville’s dog park was just an empty, fenced-in field. The former baseball diamonds had been used for dogs since 2012, but Piasta saw the need for something more. He approached the Town of Niverville—who own the land—to ask to put equipment in the park, which the town allowed. Piasta said he sold them on the idea that people would come from all over to use the dog park and would likely use other services in the town, like food and ice cream stops, as well.

Piasta has a passion for dogs and founded a local dog adoption website. He also has a passion for the community. His two passions helped shape the dog park idea, which is not only new to the Southeast, but also to the province.

“This is the only dog park in all of southeastern Manitoba. There’s nothing in Steinbach or the surrounding towns,” said Piasta.

Piasta said most dog parks, like the ones in Winnipeg, are just open spaces for dogs to run around without and activity equipment.

The Niverville Dog Park has 12 stations, which include a teeter totter, tunnels, a fire hydrant, agility poles and jumps.

Most stations are made out of metal and would likely have cost about $800 each, had the committee ordered them online, Piasta said.

But to keep the costs low and to involve the community, Piasta reached out to businesses that donated their time or performed services at cost.

Piasta said a local welder designed the stations for the park and used recycled metal. The welder’s union donated the use of their shop and supplies to build the stations. A company in Steinbach powder-coated the stations at cost. A business in Ile des Chenes donated the tunnels. A woman on the dog park committee painted the fire hydrant, tables and benches. Volunteers helped set up the stations and put the finishing touches on the park.

The dog park cost about $4,000, Piasta said. He adds all monies came from private funds.

“That was one thing I wanted to make sure—we did everything to the lowest cost possible to the town,” said Piasta.

The dog park committee raised funds for the project through community events and donation jars.

The Town of Niverville appreciates Piasta’s efforts with the dog park.

“We’re very appreciative of community members that have a passion for certain causes. This particular case we have a resident who has a real passion for dog adoption. It’s the passion of his and he’s got other community members involved,” said Niverville mayor Myron Dyck. “It is through individuals like this that truly make communities great.”

“I kind of had a dream. I said I’d do it and I’m stubborn. I went and got ‘er done,” Piasta said.

The Niverville Dog Park’s official grand opening, ribbon cutting, and dog Olympics event take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The dog park is located off Arena Road behind the Niverville Arena.

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