By Staff Reports
(Maui) – Mayor Alan Arakawa and the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation are happy to announce the official opening of Central Maui’s first leash-free dog park at Keopuolani Park. The grand opening and blessing will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 16. The public is invited to attend with their dogs.
The dog park features two fenced areas, one for large dogs and another for dogs less than 25 pounds. The accessible drinking fountain has two fountains for people and one ground-level fountain for dogs. The park will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Our community needs this kind of park, because as our population grows, so does the number of pets,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “It is important for dogs to get exercise and this park will provide animal lovers this opportunity. I hope that responsible dog owners will use this park as a place where their pets can roam free. And when they are not using the park I encourage them to keep their dogs on a leash when they go to the beach, on hiking trails or in other public areas. As dog owners, we are responsible for the actions of our pets.”
The dog park can be accessed from Kanaloa Avenue by turning into the park on Keopuolani Parkway. The parking lot is located near the perimeter of the YMCA property; a crosswalk leads to the dog park.
Dog enthusiasts welcomed the news at an organizational meeting held January 29, and volunteers are being recruited to help support the new park. As a new feature in Parks, the Department would like to educate the community on proper dog park etiquette. Volunteer recruitment is being coordinated by Parks employee Sue Kiang, who can be reached by calling 270-7329.