New Joliet Dog Park Opens July 19

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will get its fifth dog park, and the City of Joliet its first, when Rock Run Preserve – McClintock Road Access opens on July 19 during a special celebration.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Forest Preserve District dog park. The ceremony will include music from the Channahon Junior High School Band and will be followed by craft activities, games of fetch, and an inflatable obstacle course for children. The first 250 pooches that attend will receive free paw-shaped water bowls. The festivities will conclude at 11:30 a.m.

The dog park features three separate 2.5-acre fenced areas. One enclosure is reserved for small dogs that weigh less than 35 pounds. In addition to the 7.5-acre dog park, the new Forest Preserve access also features parking, a latrine, sidewalks, an accessible picnic area and a drinking fountain. The dog park is located at the northeast corner of Route 6 and McClintock Road, about 1.5 miles east of Interstate 55.

The District also has dog parks in Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access in Shorewood; Whalon Lake in Naperville; Messenger Marsh in Homer Glen; and Forked Creek – Ballou Road Access in Wilmington.

A dog park permit is not required to attend the 90-minute dog park opening, but permits will be available for purchase. Rabies tag information – number and expiration date – must be up to date and available to purchase a dog park permit.

Sponsors for this event include Burla Construction Inc., JULIE Inc., Bill Jacobs Auto Group, BMO Harris Bank, Enbridge Energy, CITGO Lemont Refinery, Saratoga Food Specialties, CARCARE Collision Centers, Exelon Generation, ExxonMobil Pipeline, TransCanada and CN.