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Politics & Government

Snow Doesn't Damper Park Activities

Bow Wow Beach closed, several parks open all year.

Winter brings a different look to the fields, trees and lodges of the Stow parks as the ground crunches icily underfoot and grass gives way to blankets of snow. While some seasonal offerings are not available until spring, other activities continue.

Stow parks remain open from dawn to dusk, with the exception of , which closed for the winter months and will reopen next year when warm weather returns. Located within , the dog park for canines and their owners now ends its third season.

Bow Wow Beach has become a coup for the city as well as a much-loved favorite among the pet owners who frequent the fenced-off park facility. The year after Stow launched the dog park, Dog Fancy Magazine placed Bow Wow Beach among its top 10 list in "America's Best Dog Parks of 2008."

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"Without a doubt, for a city the size of Stow to have a nationally ranked facility is a major feather in our cap," said Nick Wren, director of Parks and Recreation.

"Additionally, [Bow Wow Beach] also bring[s] in a lot of non-residents into the community, which is an ancillary benefit to our city, to expose non-residents to what we feel is a wonderful place to live," he said.

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The park must close during winter months for safety reasons. When the lake at the heart of Bow Wow Beach freezes, the ice cannot support the weight of dogs or their owners.

For pet enthusiasts Kristen Horvath of Kent and David Kettlewell of Akron, the seasonal closing of the park left them looking with mixed emotions to other communities for the exercise, play and socialization their dogs enjoy.

Horvath had been bringing Tessa, a black, Labrador Retriever mix, to Bow Wow Beach twice a week during the three months she has had the dog.

"I'm sad that they're closing. I've learned so much from other owners," Horvath said.

Kettlewell made daily trips to Bow Wow Beach. He said the park also provides dogs a rare opportunity to learn how to get along by playing with other four-footed patrons.

"They get to run really hard, but more than that is socialization," Kettlewell said.

Although the re-opening date next year for the park remains weather-contingent, the parks and recreation director said the safety concerns of a semi-frozen lake leave no choice in whether to close the dog park for the season.

"Anything inside the fence is closed," Wren said, although the rest of Silver Springs Park remains open throughout the winter months.

There are plenty other things to do. Park rental facilities and lodges remain open for public use during the winter, and the , at 3968 Darrow Rd., continues to host numerous activities.

In addition, sledding is open to the public at Silver Springs Park, with entrances located at  5027 Stow Rd. and 5238 Young Rd., and at , 3300 Darrow Rd.

In combination with recreational programming for the , the Parks and Recreation department maintains services throughout winter months to Stow residents of any age.

"It encompasses all ages, from 1 to 99," Wren said.

For more information on the winter-season activities of the Stow Parks and Recreation department, click here. 

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