New off-leash dog park opens in Sammamish

Seattle Times staff reporter

CHRIS JOSEPH TAYLOR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Jami Yangas of Sammamish holds onto her dog Trixie as she enters the new Beaver Lake Park off-leash area with her son Connor Yangas, 11, today. The park is located behind the Beaver Lake ball fields off 244th Avenue Southeast.

CHRIS JOSEPH TAYLOR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Aaron Burns, 25, of Kirkland and his wife Melanie Burns, 23, enter a section of the new Beaver Lake Park off-leash dog park in Sammamish today with their two dogs Violet, left, and Puppy, right. The fenced facility is divided into small-dog and large-dog areas featuring benches and a trail through the woods.

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A new off-leash dog area made its debut today at Sammamish's Beaver Lake Park.

The 3-acre site, along 244th Avenue Southeast, features separate areas for dogs over and under 30 pounds; a fenced, gated concrete area where owners can affix or remove leashes and other accessories; benches where people can rest while their dogs run free; and a trail that leads through a mix of meadows and woods.

The trail is designed "so the dogs have a choice of being in a sunny or a shaded area," said Michael Shiosaki, Sammamish deputy parks director.

About 20 dogs and twice that many owners and other visitors turned out Thursday afternoon for the ribbon-cutting; dog treats were served.

The off-leash area was authorized by the Sammamish City Council in 2006 and built since November for about $200,000.

"We've been waiting for it to open," said Holly Hasselbalch, who arrived with her 4-year-old son, Bryce, and their 4-year-old Chihuahua, Ozzy. "Otherwise, we have to drive to Marymoor in Redmond."

Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com

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