Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Shelby, NC (WNN) - After a short walk down the Carolina Harmony Trail, you'll find yourself at Shelby, NC's newest amenity, the Shelby Dog Park. On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, members of the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce and Shelby's government held a ribbon-cutting for the new park. The dogs and their humans excitedly awaited entrance to the park.
Shelby's Director of Parks and Recreation, Charlie Holtzclaw, spoke with us on the construction of the park. Despite being a welcome addition to the Harmony Trail, it wasn't without its construction challenges. The area was purchased by the city in 2023 from the Cleveland County School System. According to Holtzclaw, the money for this project came from the general fund of Shelby, meaning local taxes funded it.
An Aerial view of the recently completed Shelby Dog park - October 3rd, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The park itself was under construction for about eight months. "If you look at the treeline behind the park, that's how all of it was when we started," said Holtzclaw. A few trees were left in the park to provide shade.
He went on to explain that after clearing the area, it was found to be in a slight dip. This would've caused issues with water, so the area had to have a lot of dirt brought in for grading. After grading, boulders were brought in for beautification and seating, along with completing the mulching and fence to finish off the park.
Dogs and their owners enjoying the park after the ribbon cutting - October 3rd, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The park offers numerous amenities for dogs and their owners, including a multi-tiered fountain, benches for rest, and cleaning stations equipped with waste bins to help maintain a clean environment. There are also dog waste stations situated along the trail on the way to the park.
One of the Dogi Pot waste stations on the way to the Shelby Dog Park - October 3rd, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
To ensure everyone's safety, the park is divided into two areas: one for small dogs and another for larger breeds. Park rules can be found on the front gate of the park, with some of the notable rules being:
Local pet shop owner, Fred Harrill, owner of RollOver Pets in uptown Shelby, also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He has been in business in uptown Shelby for sixteen years and noted that the public has been requesting the park for at least fifteen years.
Harrill hopes that the park will provide a place for socialization, not just for dogs, but also for like-minded owners from the surrounding areas. It may bring more foot traffic to the uptown Shelby area and not just the trail. This would help bring more customers to local businesses surrounding the area.
Owner's socializing at the Shelby Dog Park - October 3rd, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
"A tired dog is a good dog," Harrill mentioned. He believes the park provides an excellent opportunity for those in the area who may not have large yards. The park will be a place where dogs can get the exercise they need. Not only will getting their energy out help with aggression, but the socialization opportunities will help lead to plenty of happy dogs as their owners make new friends.
Maybe you don't have a dog to take to the park. Visiting RollOver Pets on Fridays could help you with this issue. To help socialize them and find forever homes, Clifford's Army Rescue brings dogs in foster care to the shop. This rescue is local to Cleveland County and is currently fostering around one hundred fifty animals. Those who are interested can visit RollOver Pets 105 W Warren St, Shelby, NC 28150 on Fridays, or reach out to Clifford's Army Rescue in the link here.
The park is open from dawn until dusk seven days a week. While there is no direct parking, dog owners can park at the Bobby Bell Pavilion located at 126 W Marion St, Shelby, NC 28150 and follow the signs down the Carolina Harmony Trail to reach the park.
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