MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 15, 2019) – Manatee County's most popular dog park will soon be dedicated to one of its biggest dog lovers.
Later this month Manatee County officials will dedicate the Happy Tails Dog Park at G.T. Bray Park in honor of Laurie Crawford. Laurie served on the Manatee County Animal Advisory Board for 15 years, serving as its chair from 2001 to 2015. She also helped establish Manatee County's first dog park which now bears her name.
The public and pups everywhere are invited to a brief dedication ceremony on Fri., April 26 at 2 p.m. The park is located at 2811 51st St. W., Bradenton just north of the main park's main entrance off 51st Street West.
Laurie passed away at the age of 64 on Nov. 8, 2018. County Commissioners voted to rename the park in her honor less than three months later.
The 4-acre park reopened in the fall after a renovation and expansion paid for through the voter-approved Infrastructure Sales Tax. The park includes three pavilions, two water fountains, eight benches, 15 picnic tables, eight waste-bag dispensers and 12 trash cans. The expansion project also added sidewalks from the parking lot to all pavilions for ADA access and separate entry areas to both dog parks for increased safety.
Laurie Crawford Dog Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, except Monday mornings from 7-10 a.m. when the parks are closed for maintenance.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.