OCEAN PINES — Ocean Pines residents can expect to use the
community’s new dog park by the end of this month, as construction is now under
way at the Manklin Meadows property.

Posts for the metal fence have been placed around the
circumference of the park, located off Manklin Creek Road, and a mulch surface
has been spread over the area.

On Tuesday, workers began installing the roughly 5-foot-tall
fencing, which was specifically designed to keep even the tallest dogs from
jumping out of the park.

The Ocean Pines Association already has this year’s dog tags
in stock. The blue tags, available at the Administration Building, are required
to use the park. One tag costs $25 and will be valid for the year it was purchased.

After talks about the park began last year, residents have
been anxious to use Ocean Pines’ newest amenity.

“I think it’s great and a long time coming,” said Margaret
Tossey, an Ocean Pines property owner who was walking her dog, Seamus, near the
new park. “I like the fact that it’s in the shade.”

Up to $30,000 will be spent on the park. The OPA agreed to
match the $15,000 donated by residents.

Although Bob Thompson, general manager of the OPA, was
confident in his update of the project at Tuesday’s Board of Directors meeting
that the park will be open well before the final day of July, he did not want
to specify a specific opening day, “just to be safe.”