By Bill Buckles
Bark Park Buddies
What is the most popular city park in town? According to Lisa Beeman, Community Development director for the City of Bartlesville, the answer might surprise you. It’s true that huge crowds gather at Sooner Park, Johnstone Park, and Frontier Pool — but only for special activities. The dog lovers of Bartlesville have made Cooper Dog Park the most popular city park in town.
Cooper Dog Park, located in the Lee Lake Complex at 2200 S.E. Adams Blvd., started with a few citizens requesting that the City create a dog park. Several newcomers to the Bartlesville area had seen dog parks in other cities and realized the need for a place to exercise the canine members of their families. The City was approached with the idea and, although sympathetic, due to economic shortfalls the timing was wrong for construction of a new park.
Bark Park Buddies was established and approached the City Council with a proposal. If accepted and funds were raised, would the City allow a dog park to be placed on city property? The City agreed, providing that Bark Park Buddies would not only build the park but maintain it.
Once the agreement was reached and permission was granted, the dream became a 3.5-acre reality. Thanks to many funding donations, volunteer labor, and the cooperation of lumber, concrete, and a local fence company, the dog park became a reality.
“The building of Cooper Dog Park was a beautiful example of citizens and city government working together,” said then City Manager Ed Gordon, who passed away this year.
A dedication for the park was held Jan. 22, 2012, and is still going strong moving in to its 10th year of operation.
Cooper Dog Park is funded by generous donations and fundraising activities. The most popular event is the “Dog Days of Summer” swim party, held at Frontier Pool the last day of the pool season in late August. See photos of past activities at barkparkbuddies.com. Cooper Dog Park is maintained by donations to the Bark Park Buddies organization to provide lawn mowing and maintenance.