The City of Gatlinburg was one of 15 communities across the state to be awarded a Tennessee Dog Park Dash Grant in June of 2021. The Dog Park Dash grant program, administered by the Boyd Foundation, allocated $25,000 in funds for the construction and development of a dog park in Gatlinburg. The remainder of the project was funded by the City of Gatlinburg.
The Dog Park at Mills Park was the 87th such facility to be supported by the Dog Park Dash program in the state.