More than 200 dogs and their owners attended the grand opening of the Silverdale Dog Park last week after a year-and-a-half-long effort by Silverdale residents to build it.

The Silverdale Dog Park Stewardship has raised more than $45,000 since spring 2009 for the construction and ongoing upkeep of the park, which will be maintained by volunteers.

The park, located at Gateway Park on Silverdale Way north of the Waaga Way overpass, features fenced-in spaces for larger and smaller dogs.