INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Broad Ripple needs your help to win a national contest for a dog park makeover.
The "Beneful Dream Dog Park Project" ends Tuesday and Broad Ripple Dog Park in Indianapolis is in a tight race with a park in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can vote once a day.
Around since the early 90's, Broad Ripple Dog Park is the oldest dog park in Indianapolis and its age is starting to show.
"It would be great to improve the turf here at the bark park because you can imagine, with hundreds of dogs every day, it's tough to get the turf to maintain a suitable condition," said dog owner, Marie Koenig.
Right off Broad Ripple Avenue, the park attracts dogs and owners like Koenig and her rescue Collie, Sir Willis.
"A tired dog is a good dog. It's a lot of fun. I've made a lot of friends here," Koenig said.
Indy's Broad Ripple Dog Park is one of seven parks around the country chosen as finalists for a $30-thousand makeover.
The winner - is based on votes through social media. Thanks to posts from Hoosier pet owners with their own dogs, the park has quickly raced to the top of the pack.
"I think it’s important because dog parts foster community. And it's a place for your dogs to be social. It's a place for people to be social," said Andrea Watts, Marketing Coordinator at Indy Parks.
The City and dog owners have plenty of ideas for how they would use the cash.
"The money can be utilized, we think, in so many ways. Maybe with agility equipment for the dogs, and maybe a shelter of some sort," Koenig said.
"Right now we don't have a working water fountain and this dog park could really use a facelift," said dog owner Chad Martz.
Other ideas include new benches, trees and grass to build a better place for pets, people and play.
"There's a lot of history here, and it would be great. It's time for a makeover for us," Watts said.
For more information and a look at the latest tally, click: https://wm6.walmart.com/beneful
The only way to vote is by posting on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #Indianapolis and #BenefulDogPark.
If you post to Instagram, your post needs to include a picture of a dog, a dog park or a spot in Indy.
