After years in the making, new dog park in Victor set to open
It's about to be an exciting summer for dogs in Victor.
The dog park at Harlan Fisher Park is officially opening.
The Town of Victor will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Harlan Fisher Park on Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m. to celebrate the opening of the new off-leash dog park. The event will feature small and large dog area tours, dog activities, and refreshments for visitors.
Plans for a dog park in Victor have been years in the making.
The town said it was identified as a priority in the 2019 Victor Parks and Recreation Master Plan. According to a press release issued in 2021, 150 votes were cast in favor of a dog park at public outreach events. Additionally, in a Community Outreach Survey from 2018-2019, a dog park ranked fourth for additional recreation amenities or programs for the town to consider over the next five to ten years.
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After looking at five different dog parks in the area for inspiration, Brian Emelson, the director of Victor Park & Recreation, said his team wanted to make this project special and representative of other parks within the Victor community. In doing so, Emelson said his team ventured away from the traditional style of dog parks with several fences to create a more natural barrier with trails and over 400 new plants.
"We basically built what was in the plan that residents wanted to see," Emelson said. "It's pretty much a very unique project."
The new seven-acre park includes state-of-the-art pet washing stations, water fountains, and an electronic access system that tracks the park's visitors and ensures all dogs are licensed and up to date on their shots.
Though Saturday's event is free and open to the public and their pups, once the dedication piece concludes, the dog park will become an off-leash membership area that can only be accessed with a fob.
To register your dog, owners will need a current copy of their dog's license, a copy of their current Rabies Certificate, a copy of the completed Victor Dog Park Membership Application, a signed release form and will need to purchase a $30 annual pass from the Town Clerk's Office, according to the park's website.
You can register at the Town Clerk's office at 85 East Main Street in Victor. For more information or to access the membership application and release form, you can visit their website.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.