Redesigned Dog Park Opens Wednesday

Alert your furry friends — Beneful's $500,000 redesign of Newtown Dog Park will debut Wednesday at 11 a.m. with much fanfare.

"We're grateful to have the dog park," said Doug Nurse, communications manager for Johns Creek. "We think it will be well used, and one of our more popular attractions."

The reason behind the facelift? Johns Creek resident Pat McNeely, who frequents the city's park with his husky, Koda, entered a Beneful contest last year when he saw that the dog food company was offering an impressive prize.

The contest asked dog owners to create a video that answered the question: "If you had $500,000 to create the ultimate dog park for you and your best buddy, what would you do?"  McNeely's video, featuring Koda, won, and Beneful has given $500,000 for Newtown Dog Park's redesign.

The Beneful WagWorld Dream Team unveiled a plan last year featuring some of McNeely's ideas. Jason Cameron, host of the DIY network show "Desperate Landscapes," and author and pet expert Arden Moore created the master plan, which includes artificial turf, an obstacle course and tunnels, a splash pad that looks like a paw with water shooting up from it, a bridge in the shape of a bone and drinking fountains. The park will increase from a half-acre to a full acre.

The community and their pets are invited to attend the opening at from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will include appearances by Cameron and Moore, McNeely and Koda, Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and Beneful representatives.