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Quality of life amenities are an important part of a vibrant community. For a city its size, Wheeling does have some incredible community-based options -- think Oglebay Park (could there have been better weather this past weekend for Oglebayfest and the Ohio County Country Fair?) and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, just to name two. Another must-have for a city that's looking to retain residents while attracting a new population base is a dog park. And thanks to the efforts of one local family, Wheeling now has two locations where the pups and their owners can safely play and socialize.
Last week, the Fitzsimmons family dedicated a new dog park at Wheeling Park, just outside the White Palace. The new park, while slightly smaller than the dog park at Tunnel Green, does have spaces for both large and small dogs and will allow those walking their dogs at Wheeling Park a place to let them run off-leash.
"Dog parks serve a dual purpose in our community. They bring people together from different socio-economic backgrounds, different racial backgrounds and different political beliefs. They bring people together over a common passion," Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott said.
The Fitzimmons family deserves the community's thanks for helping to facilitate and finance the project. "I think it's great for the dog owners to get together too and talk about their dogs with each other. There are a lot of dog owners and dog lovers in the area. … It's about a revival of getting out and meeting people," Sunni Fitzsimmons said.
This is a great addition to Wheeling, and another needed amenity at Wheeling Park. CEO Bob Peckenpaugh said this is just one piece of a makeover that's taking place to modernize Wheeling Park. Wheeling needs more public-private partnerships such as this to help lead the city into the future.