Area residents now have a new city park to let their dogs run free.

Officials with the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department announced today that a new off-leash dog park in Riverfront Park is now open. The park entrance is near the intersection of North Second Street and U.S. Highway 24/40.

The park is the second off-leash area developed by Parks and Recreation. The first, Mutt Run, is located below the Clinton Lake Dam in West Lawrence.

Mark Hecker, parks and maintenance superintendent, said the department had received many requests for a new dog park. Look for more information on the park in tomorrow’s Journal-World.