By Brian Henderson

A press release was recently provided to me, indicating an uncommon fad/trend that could soon be on the rise. I’ve always been of the opinion that dog friendly places and parks add direct value to the communities that maintain them – much like a playground or a baseball diamond, it makes life in that area a little more rich, and a little more complete. People who have fought for and continue to fight for local dog rights are doing their communities a favor… so you should thank them, or better yet, get involved.

The press release I will show you below is not near Boston, it’s practically 1000 miles away to the South. It’s for a community is Douglasville Georgia called Tributary, and well, this is just about one of the neatest things I’ve seen in a while. It’s an idea that Boston area real estate developers should keep in mind. I’m not trying to convince anyone to leave Boston – that’s not my point. My point is that sometimes the free market and capitalism lead us to unique and interesting places – such as this housing community which is almost completely focused on dog people. The question that remains is “will this be a short term fad or a long term trend?” I’m hoping for a trend.

The press release follows:

POOCH PARKS: PREFERRED PLACE FOR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS

With a variety of parks scattered throughout the community, homeowners at Tributary at New Manchester face tough decisions over where to spend their leisure time. But for four-legged residents, the decision is a tail-waggingly simple one.

The canine set is meeting at the Pooch Parks.

The developers of Tributary in the city of Douglasville have seen puppy love bloom at its three special destination parks linked to homes by tree-lined sidewalks and dedicated to running free, playing, sniffing out new friends, and — well, to be delicate, taking care of business.

The landscaped and fenced parks are decorated with animal-friendly icons which remind residents to leave only paw prints behind.

“The American love affair with pets is growing by — pardon the expression — leaps and bounds,” says Tributary sales & marketing director Frank Gilligan. “Pets can be found in 62 percent of American households, and nearly 75 percent of those homes have more than one pet. Americans spend an estimated $34.3 billion on pets.”

The numbers, Mr. Gilligan says, show a market that views pets as part of the family — in some cases, the heart of the family.

“Many of our buyers are Generation Xers and empty-nesters,”he says. “A place for their pets is a valued attraction.”

There are more than just dog parks at Tributary. Residents have plenty of open spaces to enjoy. Founders Park in The Village neighborhood is a large open green with plenty of shade trees, and each Tributary neighborhood has Social Parks with swings and benches, and children’s parks with play equipment. The parks are dispersed throughout the community. Tributary is also adjacent to Sweetwater Creek State Park and the Chattahoochee River.

“All of our parks are intended to contribute to an active, vibrant neighborhood and are geared to people gathering, talking and socializing,” Mr. Gilligan says.

Homes in The Village are priced from the low-$200,000′s to $800,000. In the new River Banks neighborhood Traditional and Arts & Crafts homes clad in Hardiplank, brick and stacked stone, are priced from the mid-$200,000s to the $500,000s.

Tributary is a 1,475-acre community with a small town atmosphere and a variety of housing and neighborhood choices and prices. The development offers an array of nature activities, including walking on nine miles of trails, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking and even camping. Its master plan also includes swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, tot lots and athletic sports fields.

Tributary is located just 20 minutes to downtown Atlanta, the airport and the Vinings/Galleria area.

More information about Tributary at New Manchester can be found at: www.TributaryGA.com or by calling 678.391.0026.

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For more information, contact:

Ernie DiRico or Melanie Ham
DiRico & Associates Public Relations
404.255.3696