Indoor Bark Park Offers Clean Fun For Dogs
By Cassie Bonstrom, WCCO-TV
MINNETONKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Spring may be here, but that means the mud puddles are as well. And if you're a dog owner, you know a trip to the park is going to be messy. That's why a new facility in Minnetonka is giving you another option.
It's busy, loud and, at times, chaotic. But that doesn't bother anyone at the Bark Park in Minnetonka.
"Any place that there's a lot of dogs, I love it," said Lee Fields. "I'm a dog lover."
The new indoor play area and doggie day care opened in mid-March and offers a 3,000-square-foot space for dogs to run, play and make new friends.
"She's having a blast today," said Fields. "I don't think we've found a dog she doesn't like or that didn't like her."
The Bark Park allows Fields to get out with his best friend, Annabelle, no matter what Mother Nature is doing.
"Anytime, any season, any day, rain, sleet, snow, don't matter," he said. "Not only does it allow them, but it allows you to get out and play."
Co-owner Mindy Banko said it's perfect for those trying to avoid yet another dog bath.
"It's still pretty sandy and mucky, and the dog parks are pretty wet and grimy," said Banko. "So we're just seeing a ton of people coming here to just come for a couple hours and play and just leave clean."
Alicia Lahti is glad her dog will come home looking the same he did as when he arrived.
"It's like the Cadillac of dog parks," said Lahti.
And the dogs aren't just clean when they leave. If all goes well, they're downright exhausted and ready for a long nap.
If you'd like more information about The Bark Park, visit http://visitthebarkpark.com/.
A day-long pass for the indoor play area is $7. Doggie Daycare is $5 per hour.
