PHOTOS BY ISABEL: Ribbon cut at Burien's new off-leash Dog Park Thursday

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Now in her second year with more great work is our youngest-ever Contributor – 12-year old Isabel Herbruger – Local Girl Scout, 4-H member, and aspiring photojournalist. We encourage residents of all ages to submit stories and photos for posting – for consideration, please email yours to [email protected]!] Photos and Story by Isabel Herbruger, age 12 On Thursday (Sept. 8), “The BuTCH” off-leash Dog Park in Burien had its official ribbon cutting ceremony. The full name of the new off-leash dog-park is the “Burien Toyota and Chevrolet Dog Park,” which is a mouthful to say! It is open 8 a.m. – dusk daily. The BuTCH is located where the old Lakeview Elementary School used to be, near Highline Medical Center on SW 160th Street. There is a “people park” down below, and the off-leash dog park is up above. There was a big demand for people and their dogs to be able to socialize in the Burien area, and an off-leash park is a great way to do that. It took $60,000 in donations from the community, Burien Toyota and Chevrolet, Beneful Dog Food, and others to build the park. Local Boy Scout Yasin Ali-Halane gave over 150 hours in creating an agility course in part of the park. Click images to see larger versions/slideshow: The BuTCH is one of 25 parks in the Burien area. The last new parks built were Eagle Landing and Jacob Ambaum about ten years ago. Currently, Burien Parks and Rec is focusing on replacing old toys, like in Dottie Harper Park, and hopefully converting Moshier Field to artifical turf. Parks and Rec recently formed a partnership with Highline High School to create an afterschool program for students who need homework help or are not busy with sports and other activities. Did you know the Burien Skate Park was also started as a grassroots community effort by a bunch of students? According to Councilmember Nancy Tosta:

“All it takes to make a change in our community is a dedicated group of people to start a community effort.”

I wonder what the next grassroots community effort will create! Sincerely, Isabel Herbruger]]>