ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Furry friends across Alpharetta will have a new place to beat the heat in the summer shade, with the opening of the Webb Bridge Dog Park on May 5.
The new facility is nestled in a copse of trees with separate areas for large and small dogs to roam around off leash, water fountains, several benches and can accommodate about 30 dogs at a time. The park’s entrance is also marked by the silhouette of a dog, where guests can leave dog tags to memorialize canine companions who’ve passed on.
The park was the brainchild of Johns Creek couple Tim and Michele Mulroy and their rescue golden retriever Pebbles. The couple said they’ve been frequent guests at Webb Bridge Park since it opened, but began spending more time there during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tim and Michele Mulroy at the Webb Bridge Dog Park entrance with their dog, Pebbles, on June 10.
“It was about that time, we decided we wanted to do something for the park. And it started out simply with a couple of benches,” Tim Mulroy said. “And then we were like, ‘you know, we probably could go bigger than a couple of benches.’”
“We wanted to give something back to the place we lived,” Michele Mulroy said.
In particular, the couple said they wanted to have somewhere where Pebbles could go off-leash and thought it would be nice to have an area where dogs could roam around and mingle. Tim Mulroy proposed the concept and donation to park officials, who were receptive to the idea, and the project was born.
The Mulroys established the Mulroy Family Foundation in 2020 to support causes related to the environment, the sick, the young and animals.
According to Tim Mulroy, the foundation directs the bulk of its contributions to charities across the area, including North Fulton Community Charities, an organization that assists individuals and families in financial need, and the men’s addition facility No Longer Bound.
“Mostly we just write checks, this is the first time we’ve actually had something material come out of it,” Tim Mulroy said.
Tim Mulroy and his dog Pebbles spending time together at the Webb Bridge Dog park on June 10.
City of Alpharetta Marketing Coordinator Deanna McKay said the project cost in the neighborhood of $50,000, with major help coming from the foundation. The park took about six months to complete.
As for what’s next, the Mulroys said they are interested in taking on another project, but don’t yet know what it will be. In the meantime, McKay said the city is planning enhancements to Waggy World Paw Park in Wills Park, “paving the way for the next generation of dog parks in Alpharetta.”
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