On a freezing cold night in early 2022, Helotes residents Jim and Betty Fuentes rescued a puppy from underneath a bush at a fast-food drive-thru.
Over a year later, Nova has made herself at home with the couple which, on a recent warm afternoon, watched as the dog sauntered about under the oak trees, greeting other pups and their parents visiting the Coyote Dog Park at La Cantera.
Named for the Spurs mascot, the park is already a favorite hangout for the Fuenteses and Nova.
“The other park we go to, they don’t have a sidewalk and trees, it’s not comfy to walk around,” Betty said. “This one you can walk on the sidewalk. … It’s just really nice.”
Open since April, the dog park is part of the first phase of the Spurs Sports & Entertainment campus, called The Rock at La Cantera, which includes a performance training center, a public outdoor plaza and a 22-acre park.
The dog park section is 7.5 acres of natural and grassy areas and green turf playscapes with paved walking trails, an agility course and picnic tables.
Shaded by abundant trees, the park also has designated large and small-dog areas, dog wash stations and low-profile pet fountains.
The goal was to create a fun, clean and safe space for people and their pets, and promote a healthy appreciation for the outdoors, said Lucy Kaneb, a spokeswoman for the Spurs organization.
Walking trails in the park link to the 20-mile Leon Creek Greenway trail system and the nearby La Cantera shopping center and lead to what eventually will be a state-of-the-art Spurs training center, research institute and medical office development when it’s completed.
The Bexar County-owned park is maintained by Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Located at 5815 N. Loop 1604 West, it is open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during winter months and until 8 p.m. in the summer.
A grand opening event is being planned for late summer or fall.
