First, it is announced that a new fitness trail for humans is going up at Veterans Memorial Park. This week, the popular park went to the dogs.

The Great Bend dog park, named the Bark Park, on the north side of Veterans Memorial Lake has been in place for several years. Now, it will be home to equipment for canines to use.

Recently during the city’s annual Party in the Park, the Great Bend Parks Department put up some temporary obstacles for dogs and their owners. They were popular and pet parents requested something more permanent.

The first of three pieces, the dog castle, was installed on a concrete slab earlier this week, Public Lands Director Scott Keeler said. The two others have been delivered and will set in place in the near future after concrete pads are poured.

The structures consist of ramps, hoops, tunnels and other features for agility training, Keeler said. They were paid for through public donations made to the Bark Park.

Glen Schraeder and his dog Luna were among the first to enjoy the castle on Tuesday. “She was loving it. She really enjoyed it,” Schraeder said.

Luna, who is a year and half old, is being trained as a therapy dog, Schraeder said. Social interaction is important and these structures help.

“That’s a nice addition to the dog park,” he said. Made of plastic material similar to that used for children’s playground equipment, they should be around for quite a while.