“Overton Bark” Dog Park Part of Revitalization Plans

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (April 12, 2012)―The Overton Park Conservancy’s revitalization efforts will include a feature that is sure to be enjoyed by park visitors as well as their four-legged friends. The nonprofit organization broke ground on the new “Overton Bark” dog park in March with plans to complete it by June.

“Dogs have always been frequent visitors to Overton Park,” remarked George Cates, acting executive director of Overton Park Conservancy. “Now, they will also have a fenced-in park where they can socialize with other pets.”

$175,000 is the total budgeted cost of the project being built by Wagner General Contractors, Inc. and designed by Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, Inc. Overton Bark’s general contract expense is $147,000 and the balance will be spent on signs, landscaping and other necessary aesthetics.

Appropriately, Hollywood Feed, a locally-owned natural and holistic pet food merchant, is the sponsor for Overton Bark.

“As a locally-owned business, we feel it is very important to give back to the very community that supports us,” remarks Shawn McGhee, Hollywood Feed President. “Hollywood Feed was born and raised in midtown so it seems only fitting that we support the Overton Bark dog park. Our goal is to bring health and joy to pets and pet owners everywhere, in our stores and beyond. And, this sponsorship opportunity allowed us to do just that.”

Overton Bark, which will be located on Old Forest Lane, near the Rainbow Lake playground, will have an area for small dogs and another for large dogs; and, there’ll be water fountains and agility obstacles for dogs.

“We expect Overton Bark to be one of the most active areas in the park,” says Cates. “In visiting with other markets such as Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, we found that similar dog parks account for 20% of a park’s attendance, and we think Memphis is no exception given our city’s love for and support of our pet population. We look forward to bringing pets and their owners together to celebrate one of our city’s greatest assets.”

For more information about Overton Park, visit https://overtonpark.org. For more information about Hollywood Feed, visit http://www.hollywoodfeed.com.

Press Contacts:

Deanie Parker
Overton Park Conservancy
(901) 412.8720

Beth Okeon
Hollywood Feed
[email protected]