County's Capital Springs Dog Park Officially Open

May 17, 2013
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive 608.267.8823 or cell,608.843.8858
County Executive

Dane County’s Seventh Dog Park Includes Walking Trails, Small Dog Exercise Area

 

Dane County’s newest dog park, located in the Capital Springs Recreation Area between South Central Madison and the Town of Dunn, is now open and ready for Fido and friends to enjoy, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today.

 

The County Executive and several happy hounds and their owners officially opened the park at a grand opening ceremony Friday.  The new Capital Springs Dog Exercise Area is located on 40 acres of land and features over a mile of hard surface walking trails, a three-acre small dog area, and approximately ten acres of prairie restoration areas.

 

“It’s great to see happy tails wagging in a new Dane County dog park,” said Parisi.  “Our new Capital Springs dog exercise area is another example of how, every year, Dane County’s parks grow to reflect the needs of our communities and to connect even more people to our excellent outdoor recreation opportunities.”    

A partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)  provided the 40 acres for the Capital Springs dog park.  Dane County developed, operates, and maintains the dog park, while the land is owned by the WDNR.

 

Dane County was one of the first park systems in the United States to develop safe, off-leash recreation for dogs and their owners.  Additional dog parks are one of the most requested  items from county park users during the county’s parks planning process.  A big draw is the exercise and socializing opportunities the parks offer dogs and their owners.

 

Capital Springs is Dane County’s seventh dog park.  The county offers additional dog exercise areas at the Prairie Moraine Dog Park in the Town of Verona, the Badger Prairie Dog Park in the City of Verona, the Viking Dog Park in the Towns of Pleasant Springs and Dunkirk, the  Indian Lake Dog Park in the Town of Berry/Cross Plains area, the Yahara Heights Dog Park at Cherokee Marsh in the Town of Westport, and the Token Creek Dog Park.

 

Annual and daily Dane County dog park permits can be purchased online at http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/dog_parks.aspx.  Discounted rates are available for senior and disabled owners.

 

A full map of Dane County’s parks and park amenities can be found online at http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/.