Royal Canin Partners With Douthat On New Playground   Royal Canin, a pet food company, and Douthat State Park are teaming up to install a walking track and playground at Whispering Pines Campground at Douthat State Park on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Royal Canin is visiting the Alleghany Highlands for a conference at The Homestead and wanted to contribute with a service project while here. Each year they hold a conference around the country and work to contribute in some way. Last year they held their conference in New Orleans and did a Habitat for Humanity project. Douthat State Park proposed a community service project to build a new playground and walking track with fitness stations at Whispering Pines. This community service project allows the entire volunteer group to work in one location at Whispering Pines. Douthat State Park staff will be supervising the project. Approximately 200 volunteers from Royal Canin will be working in teams of 14 people at different stations on Wednesday, July 21. The groups will be installing two entrance signs, six picnic pods, a quarter mile walking track, six fitness stations, 12 benches, two pet waste stations, four swing sets, and mulching around the area. A playground will also be installed before the volunteer group arrives by Blue Ridge Outdoor Designs. The whole facility is being donated by Royal Canin. The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce will be holding a ribbon cutting for this project, which will be called Royal Canin Park, at 2:30 p.m. at the site location. In 2006 Virginia State Parks extended the property of Douthat State Park by purchasing 52 acres of land known as Whispering Pines. The acreage sits at the southern entrance of Douthat State Park. Douthat’s is currently constructing a new campground and bathhouse within the 52 acres with plans to open by operating season 2011.

* * * * *