A destination devoted to dogs and drinks (for humans) will open in the Greater Cincinnati area next spring or summer.
Appropriately named BARk Park & Patio, the membership-based space will welcome well-behaved dogs and their owners (who we hope are also well-behaved) to enjoy a generous portion of land and a spacious patio and bar featuring local brews and wine.
Being a dog owner himself, Lee Cahill, owner and operator of BARk, says that the idea for the park evolved from spending time at dog-friendly bars and restaurants around the city and seeing how restricted and "angsty" the dogs were that visited.
Cahill wanted to offer a place where pet owners wouldn't have to choose between leaving their pet at home or bringing them out with leash requirements.
"I would often feel a slight pang of guilt whenever I had to leave (my dog) at home while I went out and had fun with friends," says Cahill in an email interview.
"With The BARk, everyone is allowed to have a night out. Plus, it's nice to come home with an exhausted/happy dog who just wants to go right to sleep rather than play some more."
The space will be broken into three main parts: a sprawling fenced-in outdoor park for dogs, which will be supervised by a park ranger (though owners will also need to keep an eye on their own pets); a backyard barbecue-inspired patio, which will feature plenty of seating, fire pits and eats from local food trucks; and an indoor bar, which will feature seating, TVs and music on speakers, along with a bountiful selection of local craft brews in addition to wine. Cahill says they will eventually offer a poll on their site to find out what beers they should have available.
In order for your pet to enter, owners will need to purchase either a day, month or year pass and will receive a key fob. Dogs will need to be up to date on shots to enjoy the park, but if they are not, they can still be leashed up on the patio. Cahill says that there are no breed restrictions, but they may deny entry if your pet is unruly — so please use discretion when deciding if your pet will behave safely and appropriately in the space.
Joined by Cahill is Kenny Angel, who is in charge of operations; Austin Newsted, who will oversee social media and marketing; and Chris Jackson, developing the IT and web design. Cahill also mentioned that Aaron Kohlhepp of Hickory Wald, the team behind Rhinehouse, The Hannaford and Nation Kitchen & Bar, will be consulting with them.
The team behind BARk haven't landed on a location yet for the dog-friendly spot, but they're considering Milford, Anderson Township, Pleasant Ridge and Madisonville — though they haven't ruled out other neighborhoods.
"While we hope that social distancing won't be as necessary next year as it is today, we plan on integrating those guidelines into the design of The BARk in order for it to be safe and compliant with all current regulations," says Cahill.
For updates, follow @barkparkpatio on Instagram or visit their website barkparkpatio.com.
