New dog park celebrates grand opening

Health

Jul 21

Written By Staff

The Kent County Parks Department is inviting the community out to celebrate the grand opening of Wahlfield Dog Park, the first park in the Kent County system designed for our four-legged friends. The grand opening will take place on July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7117 M-37, Comstock Park. The event is free and open to the public.

"Wahlfield Dog Park fills a need we've heard from the community for years," said Ben Swayze, Director of the Kent County Parks Department. “The park's nearly 300 acres have long been enjoyed for mountain biking and hiking, and the latest improvements expand recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages—and their dogs, too.”

The celebration begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring remarks from Kent County leaders, community partners and Fritz Wahlfield Jr. — whose family has played an important role in the park's history, donating the land more than 40 years ago.

"From the beginning, my parents, Fritz Sr. and Marlene Wahlfield, had a vision to create a park that the entire community could enjoy — a place that was free, accessible, and helped make our community a better place to live," said Fritz Wahlfield Jr., CEO of Fritz Wahlfield Construction Company. “It's an honor to carry their vision forward through multiple generations. Wahlfield Dog Park reflects our family's long-standing commitment to investing in the communities we serve, and we hope it will be a place people enjoy for many generations to come."

After the ceremony, be among the first to explore everything this incredible new 10-acre dog park has to offer, including a one-acre area for small dogs, a two-acre open activity field, crushed stone walking trails through natural areas, a one-acre swimming pond with a dog beach and jumping dock, and a family restroom with a dog wash station.

The event will feature live K-9 demonstrations from the Kent County Sheriff's Office, information and resources from the Kent County Animal Shelter, a photo booth offering free pictures of people and their pups, giveaways for the first 150 canine guests, and more.

The dog park is part of broader improvements at Wahlfield Park that also include a new park entrance, parking lot, pavilions, and a mountain bike trailhead restroom. These improvements were made possible through a combination of public investment, private philanthropy, and community partnerships. Funding contributions include:

Kent County: $3,976,000
Kent County Community Action: $950,000
Fritz Wahlfield Jr. Family: $20,000
Fritz Wahlfield Construction Company: $100,000
Subcontractor donations: $97,000

Additional in-kind support was provided by the West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance through development of mountain bike trail connections.

“Wahlfield Dog Park is a great example of what can happen when community partners come together to create spaces that benefit residents for generations,” said Gustavo Perez, Director of Kent County Community Action. “We’re proud to have played a role in supporting these improvements and expanding access to the great outdoors for people and their pets.”

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