The Kewanee Park District held a grand opening for the first dog park in Kewanee on July 3, 2025. Park Director Andy Dwyer and Alicia Hermann unveiled the name of the new dog park. Welcome to the Mary Lou Ketridge Memorial Dog Park. Mary Lou’s great niece, Alicia Herman, said her great aunt Mary Lou “was one of the kindest, most generous women that I can think of.” “I can see her right now looking down on us from heaven with a great big smile, so excited about seeing the unveiling of this dog park and probably up there with her dog Fritz.” “It doesn’t matter how far she traveled or how successful she became. Her heart always remained here in the Kewanee area.” Mary Lou Ketridge is from Kewanee and always had a fondness for animals and the Kewanee Park District. The Ketridge Memorial Dog Park is located in Chautauqua Park on Junior Avenue off West Prospect Street.
The dog park has two sides: one side for dogs under 40 pounds and the other side for dogs over 40 pounds. There is a picnic table and a water fountain inside the first gate, and the dogs can run and play through the second gates.
