A Dog Park in Tuskegee, Alabama

Alabama has the third highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America released August 2017. Alabama's adult obesity rate is currently 35.7 %, up from 22.6 percent in 2000 and from 11.2 percent in 1990, with obesity rates in Tuskegee-Macon County greater than 40%. Studies show that providing environments where people can be physically active, such as dog parks, offer an opportunity to address obesity and related conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and others. Thus, a dog park within Tuskegee-Macon County, AL will greatly improve the livelihood of both the citizens of Tuskegee-Macon County and the dogs within the community. In addition to improving the health of pet owners and their pets, the facility with also provide the general populace with a safe, controlled area for animal recreation, which has also been shown to have positive impacts on human health. This along with the presence of the local college of veterinary medicine provides a perfect platform for the establishment of a dog park in Tuskegee-Macon County, as it will serve as an added amenity to the progressive atmosphere that the area is currently undergoing.