BELLVILLE — Lyle Beveridge loved going on runs with his golden retriever Finnigan.
Now, a group of Bellville residents are hosting a 5K to help raise funds for a dog park named in his honor.
The Pups in the Park 5K will take place on Sept. 11. at the American Legion Park in Bellville. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the chip time race will begin at 8:30 a.m. Non-runners are invited to enjoy a casual stroll with their furry friends from 9 a.m. to noon. Visitors are asked to leash their dogs.
There will also be food and canine-related vendors set up at the park from 8 a.m. to noon.
Registration for both the 5K and the Family & Dog Fun Walk are $30. Pregistration is available online. The first 50 people registered will receive a t-shirt and commemorative medal.
Runners and walkers will use the B&O bike trail for the event.
Bellville’s new dog park
The Bellville Dog Park – Finnigan’s Run will be located just north of town, behind the B&O Bike Trail opposite the bike trail parking lot on State Route 97. The parking lot will be expanded to accommodate visitors as part of the park project.
The five-acre plot will be completely fenced in and comprise of two sections — a 3.5-acre section for big dogs and a 1.5-acre portion for small dogs. The land for the park was donated to the village by Jim Gorman, retired president and board member of Gorman-Rupp Pumps.
The park land is currently being used to grow soybeans. Fencing will go up this fall after the beans are harvested.
Grass seed will be planted either in the fall or next spring, depending on the weather. As soon as the grass takes hold and the fence is up, the park will open to the public, committee member Judy Golden said.
The park committee, made up of Jerry Simon, Judy and MacKenzie Golden and Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus, is currently in the first phase of fundraising for the project.
The group has already raised about $24,000, Judy Golden said. Once they reach $30,000, matching funds will be available from the Richland County Foundation.
The first phase of fundraising will cover the costs of fencing and reseeding the property. Golden said it will also cover the cost of an accessible paved walking path if prices don’t increase between now and the installation.
Since Bellville has no parks levy, the amount of money raised beyond phase one will determine what extra features go into the park.
The committee hopes to add land features like hills and tunnels for the dogs. If enough money is raised, they may even add an arena for shows and obedience classes.
Golden said community members are also welcome to donate items like trees, benches and doggie drinking fountains.
Supporters of the park can make monetary donate on Venmo by searching ‘Bellville Dog Park’ in the business section (@dogpark). Checks can be mailed to the village office at 142 Park Place, Bellville, Ohio, 44813. Please write ATTN Dog Park on the envelope or “Dog Park” in the memo.
