Dog park construction underway at Harrison Hills Park

Ground has been broken for the off-leash dog park planned at Harrison Hills.

The 1.3-acre site will sit along Woodchuck Drive, across from Laurel Shelter in the upper portion of the park.

Allegheny County landscape architect Joel Perkovich said the open field is a perfect spot to let dogs of all sizes run leash-free.

There will be two separate spaces, one for larger dogs and one for small pets. Both will be hemmed in by a 6-foot tall fence.

He expects the park to open by fall.

Work will include benches for pet owners as well as fountains.

Harrison Hills is a county-owned park that encompasses 500 acres off Freeport Road in the Natrona Heights section of Harrison.

It is one of the few county parks without an off-leash dog space.

In the past five years, the county has opened two off-leash spaces at Boyce Park in Monroeville, one at Settlers Cabin and one at South Park.