According to Michael Klitzing, assistant director for Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR), a dog park located in Central Park North will open sometime during the spring or summer of 2014. Klitzing said the park board authorized a contract with The Schneider Corporation on March 12 to prepare construction documents for the first phase development of Central Park’s north campus, which includes the dog park. Klitzing said construction is on target to begin before the end of the year.

The park will be located near 116th Street and Rangeline Road. He said the community has wanted a dog park for a number of years, and along with being centrally located in the community, the dog park is not too close to neighbors.

Klitzing said, “The biggest misconception if you’re not a dog owner is that it’s a place (only for dogs but) it’s…where people with shared interests can go with their dogs…It’s a community built for people with dogs.”

Mallory Marrs, dog owner and sophomore, has a shih tzu named Oscar and said she looks forward to the opening of a dog park in Carmel. She said she likes to go on walks with Oscar, but currently there are not many spots where she can take him.

“I love Carmel, but (a dog park) will be good because the only place you can take your dog (currently) is the (Monon) trail.”

Lindsay Labas, marketing manager for CCPR, said via email, “The dog park will provide the community with a stunning, natural setting to take their four-legged friends and a place to socialize with other citizens.”

Marrs said, “I think it will be good for the community. It will be pet friendly and (I look forward to seeing) Oscar interact with other dogs.”