Elings Park will unveil a state-of-the-art dog washing station with a Clean Dog Day celebration for dogs and their humans, 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the soccer field restroom area.
Elings Park is entirely off-leash to members of the park’s Elings Park Dog Owner Group (EPDOG), but for Clean Dog Day event, non-member dogs and people are welcome. Admission is free.
“The new tub seems to be a lot less intimidating for dogs than a trip to the groomers,” said Dean Noble, Elings Park Foundation executive director. “They’re in and out in 10 minutes, so there’s no waiting around for a pickup, as they can be whisked away to their owner’s car.”
The event will feature a free raffle with prizes including gift baskets from Montecito Pet Shop and La Cumbre Pet Supply. Several dogs from SPARK Rescue will be available for adoption as well. Light refreshments for both dogs and humans are available.
Exhibitors will offer leashes, personalized dog stickers, and other dog-related items. C.A.R.E.4Paws, K-9 Solutions dog trainers, and others dog services will be in attendande. Tiles are for sale for placement on the nearby Floyd Memorial Wall, which memorializes a dog that was a victim of abuse.
The self-contained EZ Evolution Dog Wash is underwritten by local donor Susann Trandem as part of the $10 million Elings Park Infrastructure Campaign (EPIC!). It features warm-water bathing with either flea/tick or regular shampoo, conditioner, rinse, and a commercial grooming blow dryer.
The Dog Wash is made of aircraft grade stainless steel, and the wash platform features contoured, non-skid flooring. The glass front panel pivots open to allow easy access for dogs. Cost for wash is $10 for 10 minutes, paid by credit cards only.
Other completed EPIC! projects include new landscaping at the main entrance, repaved roads and parking lots, hand-built sandstone walls, and plantings of California oaks and other native plants.
More than half of the $10 million EPIC! campaign goal has been raised. Next up is the renovation of the Los Positas Tennis Center, a new kiosk at the entrance, and the reactivation of a historic water well.
For more information or to make a donation, visit https://elingspark.org/support/epic/.
EPDOG membership includes year-round, off-leash dog access to all Elings Park’s 230 acres (not booked for an athletic or special event) and free parking.
As an independent nonprofit, Elings Park is the largest privately funded public park in the U.S. It receives no government funding and is dependent on public support through program fees like EPDOG memberships and tax-deductible donations. For more, visit www.ElingsPark.org.
