This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/19/2016 04:30 PMAfter weeks of hard work clearing the land on Nut Plains Road for the new Guilford Dog Park, project leaders and volunteers are ready to take the next step: fundraising.
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved the park, which will cover approximately 1.5 acres, in December 2015. Despite needing local government approval, the park expenses and maintenance will not be covered by the town, forcing community dog lovers to take action.
Guilford Dog Park Planning Committee leading members Catherine Kiernan Marganski and Jo-Anne Basile have set an initial fundraising budget of $38,000, just enough to have the park ready for spring 2016.
“The budget acts as a guide to our fundraising goals and efforts,” said Basile. “This budget covers the fence for the park with separate small and large dog areas, safety and maintenance gates throughout, appropriate surface for the park, park benches, pet waste stations, signage, and some hardscape.”
Basile said the most essential, and costly, item on the budget will be the fence for the park. Basile noted the park will also be ADA compliant.
“Without a doubt the single largest budget item is for the fence, which is over 1,300 feet of commercial grade, chain link fencing with black vinyl coating,” she said. “Everything must be commercial grade quality to ensure that it is both safe [and] sturdy and lasts for a long time through our Guilford winters and from the regular wear you’d expect for a public dog park.”
To start the fundraising, the committee has established a website for members of the public to visit and donate. A variety of levels and options for donation are listed on the site.
“There are lots of opportunities for people to make both small and large contributions,” said Basile. “A memorial brick area is planned for the entryway to the park…offering a wonderful way for people to pay tribute to their best four-legged friend or they can buy a section of the fence or a park bench that will be personalized with a brass dog bone affixed to the fence or bench.”
Basile said that while $38,000 is the initial fundraising goal, the committee hopes to raise approximately $50,000 to cover necessary items plus some additions.
“Once the park is open we can begin to fill in our wish list, which includes a paved walkway along the perimeter of the large park, water pump, [and a] dog obstacle course,” she said.
As the fundraising gets underway, both Kiernan Marganski and Basile said they could not have come this far without the support of the community.
“The land was cleared in four weeks by volunteers,” said Kiernan Marganski. “We usually had 25 to 30 people at the work parties. There have been extra hours put in by two specific volunteers, Guerrera Landscaping and Matt Callan, who are raking, chipping and re-grading the land.”
Basile said community members have found ways of getting involved beyond clearing and donating as well.
“Our unique logo was created by George Wang, a Guilford high school senior and obviously an incredible talent,” she said. “We all just love it…Another example of how this dog park is a great example of Guilford community spirit.”
For more information on the park, volunteering, or donating, visit www.guilforddogpark.com.