A 9:30 a.m. Friday opening ceremony will be held for the city of Ceres’ first-ever dog park at Marie Neel Park, 1950 Boothe Road.

The city dog park was funded, in part, by a $100,000 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The new park is in the Marie Neel Park at the northeast corner of Boothe and Helen Perry roads. The grant also helped the city to playground equipment on the south side of Helen Perry Road next to the Sam Vaughn Elementary School parking lot. The children’s play area should be open by month’s end.

All of the park improvements – which include curbs, sidewalks, curb ramps, asphalt pavement construction, landscaping, lighting, play apparatus, seat walls, shade structures and ornamental fencing and a dog park – cost $1.2 million.

City Engineer Daryl Jordan said the park’s opening was delayed to give the new sod needing to have enough time become established prior to use. 

The dog park has two shelters and benches and areas for large dogs and another area for small dogs enclosed by chain-link fencing. The parking lot is sized for six vehicles, one of which is reserved solely for handicapped persons with a handicapped placard.

Dog Park rules state that dog owners are responsible for the handling and control of their dogs and legally responsible for any damage, injury or illness their dogs may cause to other dogs, people or one’s self. Owners must have their dogs leashed prior to entering the park and cannot carry them unleashed into the park. Dogs must be fitted with a collar with dog tag at all times and must be licensed and vaccinated and be healthy. Puppies under four years of age are not permitted. It also goes without saying that owners must pick up any droppings left by their dog. One owner may not have more than three dogs in the facility.

Hours are sunrise to sunset. Loud music, unnecessary noise and consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted.