FORT WALTON BEACH — A representative of The Nutro Company, a leading pet food manufacturer, toured the city’s new dog park Wednesday.
The Nashville-based company awarded a $2,000 grant to the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce last October through its Room to Run Dog Appreciation Project.
On Wednesday, Greg Braithwaite, Nutro’s Southeast district for manager, presented the chamber with a commemorative plaque that will hang at the park at Liza Jackson Park.
Braithwaite said he was impressed that a civic group such as the chamber took the initiative to raise money and apply for grants to establish the dog park.
“It was providing a service that Nutro believes in,” he said. “It was helping the community and giving back.”
Braithwaite said the company awards 30 of the $2,000 grants each year.
The chamber will use the grant to pay for a large water fountain that can be used by humans and dogs.
“It’s got a human fountain on the top and a dog bowl on the bottom,” said Jeff Peters, Fort Walton Beach’s recreation and cultural services director.
Ted Corcoran, the chamber’s president and CEO, said the dog park also expects to get more benches and three additional waste stations.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.