LOWELL | Smiling and giggling, 3-year-old Cassie Dziadon and her 2-year-old sister, Ally, lay in the grass pretending to be puppies getting their tummies rubbed.

After all, their mother Christa Dziadon, of Lowell, said the girls had just spent two hours Saturday rubbing the tummies of a host of dogs and puppies that had come out for the grand opening of Freedom Bark Park, a 5-acre dog park nestled in a corner of the 114-acre Freedom Park on the town's near northwest end.

"We've been looking forward to this since I heard about it a month and a half ago," Dziadon said.

And, in fact, it appeared that the hundreds of folks and their canine pals that descended on the dog park Saturday for the four-hour event were having a great time in the pet parade and Halloween costume contest and enjoying the freedom the space allowed.

"Oh, my gosh, this is wonderful," Linda Meyer, of Morocco, said as she guided her Sadie, an Alaskan malamute/Labrador mix, along. She had heard of the dog park through Maggie Lump, of PetMed Spa & Rehabilitation Center in West Lafayette, who was offering pet massages Saturday.

Nearby, Marissa Veld, 14, of DeMotte, held Pierce, a Pomeranian from Safe Haven Rescue, in her arms.

"I love this. I'm so excited that they have a dog park in the area now," she said.

Finishing the pet parade, Bonnie Hull, of Lake Dalecarlia, and her brindle boxer Lexi took in the sights.

"This is really excellent, the way they've developed it. A lot of people volunteered their time," she said.

Roberta Thomas, of the Lowell Park Board, was one of the volunteers who spearheaded the effort.

"It's a great day," she said, surveying the large crowds. "It's been a long summer, but this turnout is our reward."

The park has both large dog and small dog, fenced-in areas to roam.

Saturday's event included a pet blessing and dedication of the May Hylek Memorial Small Dog Park.