It was a hot Aug. 1, but for once there was shade at the dog park.

The occasion was the official opening of the refurbished park, a project that cost $110,000.

Councilwoman Donna Travis used more than half of the $200,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds Mayor Frank Picozzi allocated to each council member for neighborhood renovations, improvements and community revitalization.

The dog park’s redesign is Travis’s second ARPA-funded project at City Park, the other being new benches in the dugouts of the park’s softball fields.

Travis said the idea for a dog park at City Park first came about when she attended a conference about dog parks in Newport during former Mayor Scott Avedisian’s administration.

“It was an early, early Avedisian project,” she said. “It’s been utilized by the public a lot.”

“Year after year it got beat up,” she said. “It was a mess and overused. It needed maintenance.”  In December, the bid for a redesign of the park was approved and construction began in mid-March.

Travis was joined by City Council President Stephen McAllister and Mayor Frank Picozzi to cut the ribbon and officially open the dog park at 10 a.m.

“The fences used to go the other way,” said Councilman McAllister. “But now the dogs can get some shade, especially when it’s hot like today.”

“Before they were always out in the sun,” Travis added.

The refurbished and ADA-compliant dog park has new fencing, a paved parking area, separate areas for small and large dogs and seating.

Handicap accessibility was a priority for the redesign of the park. There is now a paved parking lot directly adjacent to the dog park. It was previously difficult for the elderly to walk across the sandy area, according to Travis.

“See, they’re having fun,” Travis said after the ribbon cutting, as she pointed at a group of dogs chasing each other in the large dogs area of the park.

All Warwick wards have varying amounts of ARPA funds still available for community improvement projects. If there is a project that could benefit a ward, there is a suggestion form on the City of Warwick website or residents can contact their city council member directly