St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services this week announced that St. Mary’s County has its first dog park. The new dog park is located in John G. Lancaster Park, 21550 Willows Road, in Lexington Park. The dog park will officially open for use on March 1, 2007.
The Lancaster Park dog park is a public off-leash area operated and maintained by Recreation, Parks and Community Services. County dog owners are invited to bring their dogs to enjoy this unique facility. The dog park provides a safe, legal area in which dogs can run, play and socialize. The off-leash area is in the back of the park with ample parking. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Occasionally, the park may be closed during (and after) periods of inclement weather.
The dog park consists of two separate fenced-in areas. The large area is designed for general dog play. The smaller area is for smaller dogs, puppies (must be at least 4 months old) or for shy dogs not quite ready to socialize in the larger general play area. Water is available on site and pet “waste bags” are provided; pet owners are expected to clean up after their dogs. There are benches throughout the park for pet owners to sit down and relax while their dog enjoys the park.