By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The Atkins-Porter Dog Park in Paris will soon be an even happier place, thanks to the $25,000 check from the Randy Boyd Foundation presented Thursday morning to city and county officials by Boyd himself.
The Atkins-Porter Recreation Center was a busy place for the presentation, with most everyone bringing their dogs along.
Boyd noted that Paris won the $25,000 grant due to the Dog Park Dash competition in which the whole community participated earlier this year. Sixty communities competed for the grants and Boyd said, “Paris really turned out for it. You had one of the most engaged communities.”
Boyd, who also is the Interim President for the University of Tennessee, has a busy day ahead, as he will be making $25,000 check presentations to McKenzie, Gleason, and Trenton during the day and visiting the Extension Office in Dresden.
Paris Parks and Recreation Director Tony Lawrence said the $25,000 will be used for upgrades to the park which will include fire hydrant water misters, more water fountains, shade areas and possibly a dog washing station. “We’re really excited about it,” he said.
Boyd said he and his wife are dog lovers so embarking on such a project as the Dog Park Dash “made sense”. He noted that in addition to providing recreation for dogs, dog parks also “bring communities together” and often become a great social area for humans, too.
Paris Mayor Carlton Gerrell thanked Boyd for his generosity.
Photo: Randy Boyd presents the big check to Mayor Gerrell, middle. Gathering around from left, County Mayor Brent Greer, Parks employee Gary Paschall, Parks Director Tony Lawrence, Paris Vice Mayor Jackie Jones, and Sheriff Monte Belew and Si. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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