An impressive show of dedication and determination yielded a long-awaited amenity for Kirkland on Saturday.

Hounds said it all as they howled and barked at the entrance of Jasper’s Dog Park.

Mayor Joan McBride cut the ribbon to Kirkland’s first off-leash dog park and the dogs came unleashed. They romped, chased balls, Frisbees and each other. Dog owners compared notes.

It was a sight that many in Kirkland have waited to see for a long time.

A group of residents initially tried to get an off-leash dog park in Kirkland more than 12 years ago. It took years of planning and the establishment of the Kirkland Off-Leash Dog Group (KDOG), an all-volunteer non-profit organization who wanted a safe off-leash dog area within the city.

Finally, the City of Kirkland agreed to let KDOG build and maintain a fenced off-leash park on a 2-acre plot in the Totem Lake neighborhood, bordered by a wetland property owned by the city near the Municipal Court.

Dedicated volunteers and generous park sponsors unleashed support to establish Jasper’s Dog Park.

And while funding something like a dog park can be a bone of contention for many in cash-strapped cities like Kirkland, residents here don’t have to rely on the city for help.

The park will be entirely funded, built and operated by citizens, with no funding from the city. KDOG raised approximately $55,000 last year to develop 1.24 acres of the park.

The rest of the property on the hillside will be landscaped and fenced during Phase Two of the project. That and park maintenance will require ongoing support from the community and we encourage residents to help out where you can, physically or financially.

We also urge park users to observe park rules, which can be found at www.kdog.org.

Jasper’s Dog Park is an amenity that will help Kirkland live up to our name as a dog-friendly place. And the benefits to man’s best friend and dog owners are too many to list here.

Kudos to KDOG and the countless volunteers who put in such hard work to build a doggone great dog park.