Community members including the family of Bluffton teacher Katrina Riepenhoff, who passed away while awaiting a heart transplant in 2024, and the Village of Bluffton have scheduled an event celebrating the creation of the Bluffton Community Dog Park on Lake St.

At 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 15, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony including remarks by Matt Ellerbrock and comments by the Riepenhoff family, Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd and Mayor Rich Johnson.

Sponsors and contributions will be acknowledged and a ceremonial groundbreaking photo opportunity will take place.

Work is expected to commence the following week including installation of a water line, concrete work and fencing.

The dog park is being funded by contributions and will be located on Village property adjacent to Cobb Lake on Lake Street.

It will provide "a safe, clean area where dogs can play 'off the leash' with other dogs." It will be maintained by volunteers. A public Facebook group for the project is located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/145984225110151/