Karen York held the scissors, her Australian cattle dog and great Pyrenees mix Daphne at her side, and cut the ribbon on Evanston's newest off-leash dog area Sunday, Aug. 30.

Dog E-Town, the fenced off-leash space at Grey Park on the northeast side of Main Street and Ridge Avenue, opened with a ribbon-cutting celebration. Daphne earned a title of her own for the occasion: honorary mayor of Dog E-Town.

The park gives Fourth Ward dog owners a dedicated off-leash option closer to home. And the name itself came straight from the neighborhood.

The Evanston Parks and Recreation Department and Fourth Ward Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma organized a community naming contest that pulled in 605 entries from 304 residents, according to a city announcement. Ten finalists made the ballot: Bark Park, Barking Lot, Canine Commons, Dog E-Town, Grey Hound Park, Paws Park, Rover Run, Sniffytown, Waggly Field and Zoomie Zone. Dog E-Town won out, and the winner was scheduled to be announced at the March 23 City Council meeting.

Nieuwsma was on hand for the ribbon cutting. The Evanston RoundTable published a photo essay from the opening-day celebration, showing York with the oversized scissors and Daphne nearby.

Residents who already hold a Dog Beach Pass do not need a separate pass to use the new space. One pass covers both the Dog Beach and Dog E-Town, according to the city's parks department. Questions about Dog E-Town can be directed to Tim Carter, the city's Lakefront and Athletics Division Manager.

The off-leash area had been in the works for months, with the naming contest generating strong resident interest well before construction wrapped up. Dog E-Town is the first fenced, dedicated off-leash dog area in the Fourth Ward.