BIDDEFORD — Last week, the Biddeford Animal Hospital presented a check for $10,000 to establish the Biddeford Dog Park, at Rotary Park, about one mile from the city center. With this generous donation, nearly two years of planning to create the dog park is about to bear fruit.

The money, along with help that is expected from the Biddeford Home Depot, will be used to install a fence around the one-acre site, said Dog Park Committee Chairman Joe McKenney.

Once the fence is in place, which is expected sometime in September, local dog owners will be able to bring their pets to the park to run unleashed in a place designed just for them.

McKenney said he is glad the park will open soon. He, along with several other people on the Dog Park Committee, have been working on the project since a public forum was held to assess the need for a dog park in November 2008.

“I’m a dog owner and I can’t afford to fence in my yard,” said McKenney. “I have a husky and she loves to run. This will allow me a place to let her run.”

Currently, the closest dog parks to Biddeford are located in Kennebunk and Old Orchard Beach.

“We’re just really excited for it to open,” said Amy Lambert, committee member. Lambert is also the owner of Sooper Dog on Main Street in Saco, which  caters to dog owners.

“As a business owner, we get a lot of questions, especially from new pet owners and out-of-towners, about where they can take their dogs to exercise, especially off-leash,” said Lambert. “There’s not a lot of places for dogs to go off-leash.”

She said the dog park, where leashes won’t be required, will be good for both  pets and their owners.

“It’s good for dogs to get their energy out and socialize with other dogs,” said Lambert. “It’s good for people, too, to talk with each other and get advice. It’s a good way for people with a common interest in dogs to meet.”

City Council President Bob Mills has also been very supportive of the dog park and helped the committee work through the political process to get City Council backing for the park on May 15, 2009.

“I’m looking forward to this finally coming to fruition,” said Mills. “This is something the community wants and the community deserves.”

After the initial hurdle of council approval for the dog park was passed, raising money to purchase and install a fence became the stumbling block.

When City Council gave the okay to establish the dog park, members noted that the city would provide the land, but would not provide funding.

McKenney said the committee at first focused on pursuing a large donation but had no success. At a recent meeting, committee members decided to go after a large number of small donations. Ironically, it was shortly after that, said McKenney, that the Biddeford Animal Hospital made its sizable donation.

In addition to the donation from the Biddeford Animal Hospital, McKenney said he’s been working with Home Depot to sell the fencing for the park at a lower cost as well as provide volunteers to install it.

A donation of fencing from the School Department will be used for an interior fenced area within the larger park, said Recreation Director Carl Walsh. That area can be used for small or “shy” dogs, he said.

About 35 area residents came to an initial meeting in November 2008 to support the dog park, said McKenney. Later, a survey was sent to about half the registered dog owners in Biddeford, he said, to gauge their support. City Clerk Carmen Lemieux said there are more than 1,000 registered dog owners in the city.

The responses to the survey showed overwhelming support for the dog park, said McKenney. While some favored a dog park closer to the downtown, the site at Rotary Park was the best site available, he said, because of the availability of land. However, he said, he hopes that smaller, satellite dog parks can be established in the future.

Although the donation from the Biddeford Animal Hospital will pay for the fencing to allow the dog park to open, more funds are needed to fund other items for the maintenance of the park and comfort of the users, such as lawn equipment, benches, a gazebo and other items. The Dog Park Committee is seeking additional donations. Committee members are also hosting a fundraiser this Sunday.

Organizers are holding what they hope will be the first annual Biddeford, Saco & Old Orchard Beach Pizza Cookoff Event, from 12-2 p.m., Sunday, at the Biddeford Ice Arena and Expo, on Route 111. The cost is $10 in advance, $30 for a family, or $12 at the door. The entry fee entitles guests to all the pizza they can eat.

Contests and dog demonstrations will be part of the event. Advance tickets may be purchased at Sooper Dogs on Main Street in Saco, telephone 710-2275 and McKenney Photography on Main Street in Biddeford, telephone 282-6500.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.