Dog Fancy Magazine Reveals America’s Best Dog Parks

June 2009 issue announces winning parks and gives canine lovers tips on creating dog parks in their own communities

IRVINE, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire/ — Dog Fancy, the world’s most widely read dog magazine, unveiled the winners for its annual America’s Best Dog Parks contest in the upcoming June issue. This year’s top dog park was Freedom Bark Park in Lowell, Ind.

“It’s never easy to create a dog park, but particularly in a small community that doesn’t even allow leashed dogs in regular parks,” explains Dog Fancy Editor Susan Chaney. “The way dog lovers pulled together in Lowell impressed us. Also factoring into our decision were the digging areas so dogs can do what they love to do and the environmental efforts of the Freedom Bark Park Committee.”

Every year, Dog Fancy asks its readers to submit nominations for America’s best dog park. Parks must have fencing, double gates and free clean-up bags to be considered. Parks are then judged based on a list of standards including: water for dogs and their people, shade, lights, parking availability and accessibility, support organizations and special events, among others.

Runner-up parks included:

• Dog Wood Dog Park, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Howard and Erna Soldan Dog Park, Lansing, Mich.
• Cheyenne Park Off-Leash Area, Ely, Iowa
• Jackson’s Howlabaloo Dog Park, Edinboro, Pa.
• Happy Tails Dog Park, Dunedin, Fla.
• Shaggy Pines Dog Park, Ada, Mich.
• Ossining Dog Park, Ossining, N.Y.
• Dogwood Park at Victor Ashe Park, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Millie Bush Bark Park, Houston, Texas

For the complete story on America’s Best Dog Parks, pick up the June issue of Dog Fancy, on newsstands April 28, 2009.

To schedule an interview with the editor, contact Lisa MacDonald, marketing director, at 949-855-8822, ext. 3345.

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