The City of Nelsonville announces that all City offices will also be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in observance of the Veterans Day Holiday. City offices will re-open for business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, for regular business hours.

What should Nelsonville’s future look like? What do residents, business owners, and visitors want the community to become in the next 5 to 10 years?

Local residents will have the opportunity to answer those questions — and help shape the next chapter of Nelsonville’s story — at a Nelsonville Next Open House on Thursday, November 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Stuart’s Opera House on the Public Square.

Hosted by the Nelsonville Next planning team, the Open House will feature fun, hands-on activities that make it easy for everyone to share their ideas, hopes, and priorities for the city’s future. Participants can:

• Imagine what they’d do if they were Grand Supreme Ruler for the day
• Create their own version of an ideal city budget
• Talk directly with members of the Nelsonville Next Steering Committee about what matters most to them

“The future of Nelsonville depends on the ideas and experiences of the people who live and work here,” said Della Rucker, Principal of the Wise Economy Workshop and Project Manager for Nelsonville Next. “We want this process to be open, creative, and welcoming — a chance for everyone to have a real hand in shaping what comes next for this community.”

Those unable to attend the event will still have a chance to share their input through a citywide survey launching soon.

For more information, contact NelsonvilleNext@gmail.com or follow #NelsonvilleNext on social media for updates.

Rules for the Nelsonville Dog Park have been adopted by the Nelsonville Dog Park Board. They are designed to keep the park a safe and healthful environment for every visitor, dog and human alike. Like other Ohio dog parks, Nelsonville Dog Park is not supervised or patrolled, it is vital that all visitors obey these rules and always behave responsibly and courteously toward each other. Thank you.

 Our Park Facilities

Nelsonville Dog Park comprises the parking lot, shelter house, walking path and the fenced park areas.

These rules apply to all park areas.

• Violators of the following rules will be subject to removal from the park and suspension of park privileges.
• Nelsonville Dog Park is not supervised. VISITORS AND THEIR DOGS ENTER AT THEIR OWN RISK, and they are responsible and will be held liable for any damage or injury they or their dog cause to another dog, to any person and to park property.
• Nelsonville Dog Park is for dogs and their humans only. No other animals may be brought in.
• Hours are dawn until dusk daily all year. No person is permitted to be in the park between sunset to sunrise.
• Observance of all posted rules, applicable Ohio law and Nelsonville’s ordinances, are essential to the safety and well-being of park visitors, both dogs and their humans.
• Visitors to the park are responsible for keeping it clean and safe.
  • Dog’s waste must be picked up by their handlers, properly bagged and deposited in the bins provided. Picking up “orphan poops” is encouraged.
  • Other trash and garbage must be placed in trash or recycling bins.
  • No glass containers are permitted in the park.
  • Handlers must stop their dogs from digging and immediately fill any holes dug.
• Human food and alcoholic beverages are not permitted inside the park at any time.
• Cigarette smoking and vaping is permitted only outside the fenced dog area. Cigarettes must be safely extinguished and deposited in appropriate receptacles.
• No person may bring a dog into a dog exercise area if the dog is under four months old; is in heat; or has fresh wounds.
• No person may bring a dog into a dog exercise area unless the dog is current with Distemper, Hepatitis (caused by Adenovirus), Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus, Bordetella, Rabies vaccinations and up to date fecal exam.
• Dogs must display their current license and rabies tags.
• Dogs must be leashed at all times except when inside the fenced dog area of the park, and handlers must keep their dogs’ leashes in their possession and available for immediate use if necessary while their dogs are inside.
• Dogs are permitted at the park only when accompanied and actively supervised by at least one handler of at least 18 years of age and no handler may exit the fenced area leaving any dog inside unsupervised.
• Children under the age of 18 may enter the park’s fenced area only when accompanied by and actively supervised by a responsible adult.
• No single handler may bring more than 2 dogs into the park at any one time.
• All dogs must always be under the control and in full view of their handler.
• Handlers must be paying attention to their dogs, watching their dog’s body language, and intervening when play starts to get too rough.
• Unattended dogs will be impounded.
• Proof of vaccines should be available upon request.
• Dogs visiting Nelsonville Dog Park must be buckle collared or harnessed with accurate ID tags. CHOKE/PINCH/PRONG COLLARS are not permitted inside the fenced dog area of the park.
• Any dog that has a history of exhibiting threatening or vicious behavior, have been deemed dangerous or vicious, by the Dog Warden or by the Ohio Revised Code, are prohibited from a public dog park. Aggression is defined as hostile or destructive behavior.
• Any dog exhibiting aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs should be leashed immediately and removed from the park.

Separate Small Dog Park Area

• The small dog section of the park is for those dogs weighing less than 30 pounds and over 4 months of age.
• All other dog park rules apply.

Separate Dog Training Park Area

• The dog training section of the park is for dogs of any size and over 4 months of age.
• This area is only to be used for dog training.
• It is recommended a maximum of two dog trainers use the area at any time.
• Dog trainers should show courtesy to other dog trainers using the training area. If the area is in use, ask before entering the area.
• All other dog park rules apply.

Park Visitor Considerations

• First time dog park users should consider visiting a public dog park during non-peak times.
• A dog should learn basic obedience commands – such as come, sit, and stay – in distracting environments prior to going to a dog park.
• If your dog is shy or nervous around new environments, people or dogs, then the dog park may not be a place for them.
• Personal dog food, toys, balls, or treats can cause doggy disagreements and are NOT recommended because “sharing” will happen, and resource guarding may occur. Resource guarders, depending on what they guard, may not do well in a dog park. Dogs that guard their owners or toys etc. may not interact well with other dogs in this environment.
• Be considerate, noise from the park is a nuisance and should be kept at a minimum.  Dogs that bark persistently will be removed from the park.
• The dog park asks handlers that are concerned about shared water dish health concerns to bring their own water dishes.
• Stay alert to your dog’s behavior because ordinary play can suddenly escalate into aggression and even attack, correct this behavior before your intervention becomes necessary.​

Incidents at Nelsonville Dog Park

• Visitors involved in any incident involving injury to a person or dog should exchange accurate personal contact information (name, telephone numbers, vaccines, etc.) and veterinary contacts. Cell phone cameras can be helpful in documenting information.
• In an emergency, visitors should dial 9-1-1 for assistance from area emergency crews.
• Nelsonville Dog Park’s street address: 1157 Dog Park Lane, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
• Non-emergencies or concerns should be reported as soon as possible to the Nelsonville Dog Park Board at nelsonvilledogpark@cityofnelsonville.com.
• Please be aware Nelsonville Dog Park is not supervised. Visit at your own risk and self-enforce rules.
• The police department, and Dog Park Board are NOT responsible for enforcing dog park rules.

Policy on Children

Children under the age of 18 may enter the park’s fenced dog area only when accompanied by and actively supervised by a responsible adult. The Nelsonville Dog Park Board thanks responsible parents who understand the risks and leave their children at home or with another responsible adult outside of the park. Our policy is…

The Dog Park is NOT a place for your Child!

Dangers you MUST know:

• This is a dog park, and not all dogs are child-friendly!  Never allow your child to approach or pet a strange dog without the owner’s presence and approval.
• Herding dogs may nip at children while attempting to “round them up.”
• Direct eye contact is confrontational to dogs.  An interested child staring into a dog’s face may provoke a dog unintentionally.
• Never let your child have toys or food inside of the Nelsonville Dog Park.  A friendly dog may knock down your child to get at the toy or food.
• One adult to supervise several children or an infant and the family dog is not sufficient to ensure everyone’s safety.  Be sure you can take care of everyone you bring to the park.

The Health Risks:

• Children are more susceptible to contracting intestinal worms and other infections from touching grass, rocks or toys where feces and urine are present.

The Nelsonville Food Cupboard is expanding its hours during the SNAP shutdown. Until SNAP is restored, the pantry will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12PM-3PM to distribute food.

The Nelsonville Food Cupboard is located at 1950 Mount Saint Mary’s Drive (the former hospital) at the rear of the building.

Families may visit the pantry one time each month. They also may visit the other food pantries in Athens County. Thank you!!