Ribbon cutting officially opens relocated dog park
The day was gloomy, but smiles were bright Saturday when folks gathered to rededicate the Wapakoneta Dog Park, that recently relocated across town.
The dog park was the brainchild of then-eagle Scout candidate Travis Rorhbach, who along with
his scouting leader Dr. George Herman, friends and family,
designed — and raised funds for — a place for the city’s four-legged residents to frolic, play and run in
a safe environment. Originally located at the intersection of Auglaize and Herbstritt streets, the park needed to be moved to
accommodate the updated waste water treatment facility now under construction in that area.
Earlier this year the dog park was closed to allow construction to begin; at that time, there was no relocation plan. Interim Mayor
Steve Henderson, along with the city’s department heads and Jim
Smith and crew of the local business Instashade, made it a priority to find a suitable spot and recreate the park in the new location at the intersection of Willipie Street and Industrial
Drive, on the west side of the city’s light department.
Rorhbach was able to attend Saturday’s ribbon cutting; he was originally concerned about the fate of the dog park but said he was pleased with the end result.
“The city worked so hard to find a new site so quickly, and it’s done
so well,” he said. “I’m just so pleased on how they set it up. It even has better traffic flow here.”
Herman was also on hand for the rededication of the dog park. He said it’s rare to find a young person so passionate about a project like Travis was in 2015.
“The idea of a youth figuring out that service to a community is so
important, and then to see him do this? Herman said. “I’m just so proud of Travis.”
Rohrbach lives in the Toledo area; he said he and his family
have plans to move back to the Wapakoneta area in the near
future.