Copperas Cove City Park gets pet waste receptacles from KCCB

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press 

Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful and members of the Five Hills Scholarship Pageant Royalty joined together Saturday morning to dedicate the new pet waste receptacles at City Park. 

Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful board members approved the use of budgeted funds for the purchase of six pet waste receptacles which were installed in various locations throughout City Park by the Parks and Recreation Department, including one by the Lions Club pavilion near Avenue B. The receptacles feature little bags for pet owners to use to pick up the pet waste and a trash can for the disposal. 

KCCB Executive Director Roxanne Flores-Achmad said that with the cancellation of events due to COVID-19 restrictions, KCCB has had to restructure its plans and chose to focus on this effort. 

“We’ve been thinking outside the box, so it’s actually challenged us, and I feel that it’s allowing us to make an impact in places that we may have never made an impact in,” Flores-Achmad said. 

The Five Hills Scholarship Pageant Royalty members had previously raised and donated money to KCCB to go towards helping with a dog park in the city. 

Although no park exists yet, KCCB board members wanted to do something beneficial to pet owners now and discussed pet waste receptacles, Flores-Achmad said. 

“It’s just a great way to make a difference, and it’s also a good reminder to tell people that ‘Hey, this is available to you,’ because that pet waste, we don’t want it to end up in our water ways and in our parks. We want it to be properly disposed of,” Flores-Achmad said. 

Councilmember Dianne Yoho Campbell was present during the dedication ceremony and helped cut the ribbon. 

Parks and Recreation Superintendent Caycee Hauck was also present. 

“I think it’s going to allow more kids and families to come out here and walk their dogs and be able to enjoy the park,” Hauck said. 

Five Hills Ambassador Kaydence Roberts was also at the dedication ceremony. Roberts has overseen the Puppy Pawlooza in years past, which helped raise funds and supplies for the Animal Shelter. Her platform is about helping animals. 

“It makes me happy to know that people are also thinking about dogs, and also thinking about keeping the park clean while also letting your dog have fun and still be able to do things,” Roberts said about the new pet waste receptacles.