One person gets the ball rolling on new dog park

Since moving back to Plum this winter, Allison Wade has made it a point to ferry her Rottweiler puppy to and from dog parks outside the borough.

But in recent weeks, Ms. Wade, a registered dietitian in her late 20s, has promoted the idea of creating such a recreational space for dogs closer to home. Other dog owners have, perhaps predictably, responded enthusiastically, speaking eagerly on behalf of their canines on social media.

“It seems like everybody thinks, ‘Oh, I wish we had this,’ ” Ms. Wade said of a dog park.

Despite its public parks, swaths of open land and multitude of dog owners, Plum has no off-leash recreational areas for dogs. And while nearby dog parks — including in Monroeville, Murrysville and Penn Hills — are no more than a 20-minute drive away, support appears to be considerable for creating one in the borough.

“I think I would go a lot more if I could just drive down the street,” Ms. Wade said.

On a Friday this month, she created a Facebook group called Dog Park for Plum Borough. Over the weekend, more than 800 people joined, many posting pictures of their pets.

One post, by Barbara Steving, said, “Willow NEEDS a dog park with real squirrels,” with a brief video of a what looks like a golden retriever sitting intently in front of a television showing a foraging squirrel.

“I did not expect that many people” to join so quickly, Ms. Wade said, noting that she told only a few friends about the group. As of last week, the group had about 1,000 members. Her idea has also found favor with borough officials.

Ms.Wademetwithborough manager Michael Thomas and buildings and grounds supervisor Joe Fischetti on March 21. Neither were immediately available for comment, but she said she planned to meet with themagain.

“It sounds like it’s something they’re both definitely interested in, and something they’re going to pursue,” she said, adding they suggested a dog park would “be something good for the community.”

The cost and location have not yet been determined. Dog parks can cost $25,000 to $50,000, Ms. Wade said.

Mr. Thomas and Mr. Fischetti said they would consider possible locations in the borough, she said, noting that she also plans to seek suggestions. The park itself would probably cover at least an acre, she said, with additional space for parking.

As for who would pay for it, Ms. Wade has already taken on that task, starting a GoFundMe campaign that attracted nearly $1,400 in donations in the first week. She is seeking to partner with a nonprofit in the borough, which could help attract larger donations.

The borough could also possibly contribute, she added, though not until next year, perhaps setting aside funds in its 2018 budget.

“I think the support’s there,” Ms. Wade said. “I think it’s just going to come down to money.”

A native of Plum, Ms. Wade returned to the borough in December with her husband, Andrew, who is also a registered dietitian.

The couple, who run a private practice together, had lived in Shadyside, visiting nearby dog parks with their Rottweiler, Apollo, who is 10 months old.

“Our dog is basically our child,” Ms. Wade said.