By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

Tails wagged and spirits were high as the Municipality of Lakeshore officially opened the new ATRC Dog Park at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre. The special event was the ulti-mutt gathering, welcoming local pups, their humans, and neighbours from across the community to celebrate this pawsome new space.

The grand opening was a fur-st class affair, featuring remarks and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Tracey Bailey, Council members, staff, and plenty of four-legged friends. Mayor Bailey called the new park “an awesome addition to the incredible grounds of the ATRC,” giving dogs a dedicated outdoor place to stretch their legs, enjoy off-leash play, and sniff out new friendships. “But it’s not just the pups making connections,” she added. “Just like our many other parks, this will be a place for everyone to build community—and we couldn’t be more excited to fetch new memories together.”

Nestled in the northeast corner of the ATRC property, the one-acre dog park features eight new parking spaces (paws for celebration!), two accessible spots, a special small dog area, a dog-bowl and water-bottle filling station, fresh landscaping and trees, and complimentary dog waste bags for responsible pet paw-rents.

Mayor Bailey reminded visitors to keep the park a safe and clean home for all: “Help us keep it clean and safe by picking up after your pets, following the rules, reporting issues, and treating this space like it’s your own backyard.”

With the ATRC Dog Park now open, Lakeshore’s canine citizens and their humans have a new place to bark up friendships and let the good times roll—fur real!