LANDRUM – Stone Soup Restaurant owner Suzanne Strickland opened the Landrum Community Dog Park on her property this week.

Strickland went before the City of Landrum during their regular city council work session in August for support from the city to build the dog park.

The discussion of the dog park was tabled during their council meeting after hearing complaints from neighbors, residents of Landrum and Spartanburg attorney Andrew Poliakoff.

“The dog park would add to the quality of life for residents, visitors and their pets,” Strickland said in her initial proposal to city council members in July. “No other cities or towns in the area offer this and it would be a big draw to animal lovers.”

The dog park is approximately 28,000 square feet, or one-half acre, on her property west of Stone Soup.

A private, six-foot fence has been built and donations of agility equipment and picnic tables are needed for the park, according to Strickland. In addition, a 10-foot buffer must exist between her and her neighbors. Strickland said the park is divided into two areas designated for smaller and larger dogs.

“There will be no charge to use it. There will be guidelines, however. I’d like to get it (guidelines and signage) done before the end of the year,” Strickland explained. Guidelines will relate to vaccinations, clean-up, etc.

Strickland said she held two fundraisers for the park at Stone Soup since October and raised more than $4,000. Landrum’s recent comprehensive plan for the next 10 years included the need for a dog park in the city, according to Landrum Mayor Robert Briggs.

“It sounds like she is going to go on her own,” Briggs said in August. “The property is zoned commercial, so she’s allowed to do that in that area.”

Strickland said a benefit of the dog park would be from additional hospitality tax from the restaurant with the added space for dogs. She is still planning signage, a water system and benches, as well as a grand opening in the spring.