How 1 local business owner is helping develop a fresh dog park in Jackson Township
After being laid off in 2005, Cathi Erb was searching for a purpose while contemplating her next step.
That led her to open a business, My Dog’s Care Center, 132 Perry Highway in Jackson Township, about a year later. Nearly two decades after that endeavor took off, Erb finds herself in a position to develop a dog park in Jackson Township.
“I always point everything back to God,” Erb said. “This was something that was planted in me about two years ago. There was something that was supposed to happen here with the dog park.”
When a fellow churchgoer approached Erb and mentioned the township’s renewed interest in building out a new park, she knew it was the right moment to step in.
From that conversation grew Paws with Purpose Community Association, a nonprofit dedicated, not just to building the park, but to creating a community hub where people can connect.
Jackson Township officials secured the land in February 2024: a 41-acre parcel located just off Spring Street that has historically been referred to as the Swampoodle Property, according to Jackson Township’s website. They will be responsible for handling essential features like fencing, water access and landscaping.
Meanwhile, Paws with Purpose has been raising funds for additional amenities that include shade pavilions, agility equipment, benches and other educational programs that teach inexperienced pet owners the basics.
“We’re promoting excellence, education and a sense of collective ownership,” Erb said. “We’re all about standards, which has to start with educating people.”
The park will span about two acres with separate sections for large and small dogs and a secure entryway to prevent escapees. Long-term plans include memorial spaces, agility areas and links to the township’s existing recreational trail system.
For years, local residents have pleaded for a dedicated space for their dogs. However, some previous efforts, including one in Zelienople that was rejected earlier this year, have fizzled out.
For Erb, the project is about providing a safe space for dogs to roam and for people to connect.
“Dogs bring people together,” she said. “You don’t know your neighbor’s name, but you know that they have a golden retriever. You’re walking past somebody, you both have dogs, and you immediately have something in common, whether you say anything or not. That’s what this is all about.”
She also hopes the park will be a valuable resource in bridging the gap between residents of nearby communities in Harmony and Zelienople.
“That’s always been my thought process and mission from the beginning,” Erb added.
Erb said the cost to bring the new park to life will be between $80,000 and $100,000, covering everything from the structures to the landscaping. While My Dog’s Care Center has purchased naming rights to the park, additional funding will come from donations of all sizes and local corporate sponsorships.
“It only takes a few big-ticket people and then the little donations. That’s the icing to it,” Erb said.
Jackson Township officials hope to complete their portion of the work, which most critically concerns preparing the land, by late fall of this year. However, final touches might stretch into next spring.
Still, Erb is confident her passion will make My Dog’s Park a reality soon enough.
“This isn’t just a dog park,” she said. “It’s about raising the bar, promoting education and bringing the communities of Harmony, Zelienople and Jackson Township together.”
