The long-awaited, much anticipated dog park came to fruition Saturday morning with the unveiling of the Mary Jane McMahon Dog Park located on the opposite side of the street from where the horseshoes pits and basketball courts are located at Dorner Park. McMahon was Frankfort’s first female mayor back in the 80s who loved dogs,
“This is something Frankfort has always wanted,” said Frankfort Parks Superintendent Bart Kraning. “I’m so proud that we were finally able to get this done for the community because they kept asking for it. The city and the community has created this opportunity to come out and let their dogs loose. It’s awesome.”
Kraning added the park is huge — 300 feet — and they want people to come out with their dogs and use it.
Approximately 50 people and about a dozen four-legged visitors made the trek and got to use the area for fun and frivolity.
“I’m telling you this is probably the best addition that the city could have,” said National Humane Society President Nancy Elsea. “We have so many dog owners and so many that don’t have a place for them to run and play. When the park superintendent called me and said we’ve got this donation from the Dormer Family, I said that would be absolutely fantastic.”
Kraning also said by end of this year they should have the rules posted and hopefully have the security system in place. They hope to have the polls set in a place no later than next spring.
The parks department said they will be many more items added such as more benches, shade trees, signage, mulch area and so much more.
“I think this is fantastic for our community,” said Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets. “This is something that I’ve heard for years that people wanted the dog park. It’s exciting. It’s finally happening. They are a lot of people in support of this. They just couldn’t wait for this to happen.”
McMahon’s surviving family members were on and said how much their mother would have this.
The park is also expecting a new pickleball court to be built on the site where the dog park is located,