ANNA – The sounds of children on the playground soon will be replaced by happy barks and wagging tails when the Village of Anna opens a new dog park on Monday.

The dog park, named Rover’s Run, will be open to anyone who wants to exercise their canine companions in safe surroundings. The large grounds feature two enclosed exercise areas, one for small dogs weighing less than 30 pounds, and a second area for large dogs weighing more than 30 pounds.

“I think it’s going to get used a lot once it dries up some,” Anna Village Council member Gary Strasser said. “There’s a lot of dogs in town that people walk every night.”

The plans call for canine playground equipment to be installed over the next year to enhance play and socialization for the dogs.

There will be benches outside the fenced-in area for owners to relax and monitor their dogs. Benches have been donated by Tri-County Veterinary Services.

Owners will be required to pick up after their dogs by using bags found in locking waste disposal stations. It is suggested that pet owners bring bowls and water to refresh their dogs.

A complete list of park rules can be found at the Village of Anna website and at the dog park, which is located at the northwest corner of the Anna Community Park and is accessible by using the west park entrance.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting will be at 6 p.m. Monday.

The dog park will have the same hours as the rest of the park. Rover’s Run is the first dog park in the county and was funded by a local resident.