The wait is over. The PetSafe Downtown Dog Park officially opened today to Knoxville dogs and their owners!

Today, during a ceremony at the PetSafe Downtown Dog Park, City of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Randy Boyd, President & CEO of Radio Systems Corporation and other distinguished guests announced the official opening of the park.

The PetSafe Downtown Dog Park is located at the intersection of Summit Hill Drive and Central Avenue in downtown Knoxville.

The addition of the PetSafe Downtown Dog Park is the fourth dog park in Knoxville. Other dog parks in Knoxville include Tommy Schumpert Park, the Victor Ashe Park and PetSafe Village.

The park contains the following amenities for dogs and their owners to enjoy:
Separate small and large dog areas
Concrete plaza with benches
Plush landscaping
Crushed-stone trail

"We're very grateful to Randy Boyd and PetSafe for the generous gift that helped make this dog park possible," Haslam said. "There were several other organizations involved in this project and it's a great example of what can be accomplished when groups work together to make something good happen for our community."

"This is a very exciting day for Knoxville. The number of downtown residents is continually increasing, and it's important that they have a place to bring their dogs to run, play and socialize," said Randy Boyd, founder and CEO of Radio Systems Corporation, makers of PetSafe brands. "This park really increases the quality of life for the downtown residents who have dogs."

The opening of the PetSafe Downtown Dog Park fits into the effort to make Knoxville and Knox County the Most Pet Friendly Community in America. The effort consists of focusing on major expansion of pet activities and events, pet-focused tourism and more pet-friendly park acres and businesses and more. Numerous community leaders from City of Knoxville, Knox County, Young Williams Animal Center, the University of Tennessee, PetSafe, the Knoxville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation have been involved from the start of the movement, which kicked off in July 2009.

City Dog Parks
For more information on the Most Pet Friendly Community initiative in Knoxville and Knox County, visit www.PetFriendliestCommunity.com.

About PetSafe®

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, PetSafe® is the industry leader in the management of pet behavior, offering pet training, containment, safety and lifestyle product solutions. PetSafe® introduced the first do-it-yourself electronic fence to the pet market in 1991 and the first wireless fence in 1998. PetSafe's product line up includes: kennels and electronic underground fences; bark control systems; a selection of remote training products; pet doors; pet identification collars; heated wellness products; pet feeders and a growing line of lifestyle products. For more information about PetSafe®, visit: www.petsafe.net.