LOWELL | In less than four months, a group of volunteers expect to have the town's first dog park up and running on 5 acres at Freedom Park.

"We want this dog park to be outstanding," said Roberta Thomas, a Lowell Park Board member and chairwoman of the dog park committee. He said members recently visited a similar park in Frankfort, Ill., that is ranked third in the nation and came away certain they can create a dog park equally attractive and suitable.

On July 2, the committee is scheduled to present its professional plans to the Freedom Park Board for its members' review. The plans are the result of work by Lowell volunteer Matt Lake, an engineer, and committee member Pam Camp, a landscape designer with Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell.

"The Freedom Park Board has been very gracious," Thomas said, explaining the group was granted 5 acres in the southeast corner of the 114-acre park under development with the proviso that more land may be made available later.

During recent storms, Thomas' husband Bob and committee member Lynn Vasko's husband Jerry salvaged fallen oak trees, which have since been sawed and are being transformed into natural benches for the dog park.

Camp is using concrete sewer pipes donated by Lowell Concrete as tunnels for the dogs. The tunnels are to be covered in ivy to maintain the green theme.

A grand opening is planned for October.