2020 was a crazy year that caused many of us to feel a rush of different emotions whether good or bad. But there is one group I know that thinks this was probably the best year ever and that would be our furry friends, probably staring right at you as you read my blog. With many of humans being forced to work from home, our pups have not had a lonely day in quite some time. Now is this good or bad? I would say it’s both. Many of our pups are no longer going to doggie daycare which saves a ton of money but that social interaction for our pups diminishes drastically along with daily exercise (throwing a ball across the room a few times while you try to work on your computer really does not count). Luckily, a dog park just opened in October of 2020 during a pandemic to allow the dogs of downtown to get the exercise and social interactions that they as well as their humans need.
The Dog Park at Immanuel is located in the Bates-Hendricks area and is an easy walk from downtown, Fountain Square, and Fletcher Place. The dog park is membership only as it is a nonprofit run by volunteers and vaccinations are required to ensure the safety of all the pups. Membership is only $20/year. Not only is the dog park affordable, but it also is located in a prime location that is easy to walk, bike, or drive to! To sign up for a membership, visit indydogpark.org.
This idea of a dog park in downtown Indy dates back 3 years ago, way before my time here in Indy. The biggest obstacle was finding a lot in/around the downtown area. Initially the dog park was planned to be at Spades Park but that idea did not pan out as expected. About a year ago or so, the lot behind the Immanuel Church of Christ was brought into the picture. They graciously leased the land for free to us which allowed the price for membership to be as low as it is. Every day there are pups coming from all over Indy, bringing more business and recognition to the area. As more and more folks move to downtown Indy, it will not only give a place for the pups to interact but also bring together a community with thriving small businesses. The idea of a dog park may seem small but our pups are a big part of our lives that influence the decisions we make about where we want to live, where we want to shop, and also where we want to eat. Overall, the dog park has been a success since October and everyday your pup will meet either the same friends they made on day one or a new one who will be their furever friend.
MEET INDY
My name is Amy Luong and I am originally from Philadelphia. I graduated from Penn State back in 2017 with a degree in Toxicology. I met my husband back in Philadelphia where we then moved to Dallas and finally landed here in Indy in August of 2020. Two months after moving here, I wanted to get involved with the community and decided the dog park would be a good start since we have a dog of our own named Milo. When the communications director role became available and I jumped on the opportunity to help out. I spend my days working from home as an options/stock trader and I have interest in piano/cello, the gym, and acrylic art as well as sketch art. My goal is to help Indy thrive through community involvement and support local small businesses.
