Longtime dog park volunteer says good-bye

Jim Lockwood seems to know most every person — certainly most every dog — at the WAG dog park.

Sitting on a bench recently at the park where he’s spent countless volunteer hours, Lockwood reflects on how the park has expanded since opening in 2009 and how it’s become a popular spot for both residents and visitors to bring their pets. He’s retiring from his volunteer post as chairman of the Whitefish Animal Group, the nonprofit behind the dog park, after 11 years of service.

“I come down now and then. If they don’t know me then they know Cody,” he says referring to his border collie who sits beside him waiting to chase a ball.

The dog park is a collaborative effort between the nonprofit group and the City of Whitefish. The park is about 6 acres in size, but plans expect to add an additional acre to the fenced in area that allow for dogs to run off-leash.

Lockwood is a graduated of Montana State University and served in the Vietnam War. He made a career in Washington, D.C. as a construction attorney. He purchased property in Whitefish and then when he retired in 2007 moved here full-time.

Whitefish’s dog park was already in the works when he joined the WAG board, but he’s managed several expansions to the park over the years.

“I love dogs — I’ve always loved dogs,” he said. “This is a great place to spend time and to be around other volunteers.”

The park began simply with a fence and couple of benches. The park first major addition after opening was adding a pavilion in 2012. An obstacle course was also added that year.

The group obtained in-kind work and donations in 2013 and 2014 to add a pond and landscaping adding a water feature for dogs that was more than twice the size of the original pond area at the park.

A dog wash station was added on one end of the park and the entrance and exit bullpens were upgraded to make it easier and safer coming and leaving the park.

“It’s a really good feeling,” Lockwood says simply when asked how it feels to see how far the park has come.

There hasn’t been an official estimate, but Lockwood estimates that the dog park gets about 30,000 visits per year. Summer days are obviously busy, but even in winter folks bring their dogs to the park routinely.

The park has earned national recognition over the years. In 2015, it was designated by USA Today as one of the top 10 best dog parks in the country. It often gets attention from other cities looking to create their own dog park.

“People come here from all over the country,” he said. “People change their plans to stay here in Whitefish because they want to come to the dog park.”

Lockwood is stepping down from the WAG park as he looks to spend more time with his grown children who live in Colorado and California.

“If I move, there will be a dog club there too, but it can’t replace this,” he says looking out over the park he helped create.