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11/07/2017 11:00 PMThanks to a project undertaken by a Morgan School senior, Clinton residents and their pets now have a new water spigot to provide refreshments during the warm months in Bailey’s Dog Park on Glenwood Road.
Georgia Nye, a current senior at The Morgan School, took on the project as a member of the Husky Leadership Program. Nye said the program, which started last year, consists of juniors and senior in the school who assist with school events.
Part of the program requires that the students complete a legacy project to help the school or town.
“The goal is to make it a better community,” Nye said.
Nye got the idea for project following the death of her family’s dog, 10 month old vizsla Oakley, in March. Nye said in talking about Oakley with her dad, Peter Nye, they came up with the idea to improve the dog park last March under the banner “Oakley’s Splash and Dash.”
Georgia Nye’s project required several different steps, starting with project approval from the Board of Selectman, which was granted in the spring.
Nye said that there is currently a small group of students who are continuing to meet to do more small improvements to the park for their projects. Interested readers can make donation for these improvements, which will hopefully include a water fountain for adults and create a larger splash pad, by visiting www.gofundme.com/oakleys-splash-and-dash.
Once the approval from the selectmen was granted, Nye received donations of time and material from Schumack Construction, and help from Connecticut Water.
“It was great,” Nye said of the donations and support she received. “Finding the right people to talk to was an obstacle,” Nye said. “I really learned a lot about myself, how to be a leader.”
Nye said in particular she received lots of help from Cheryl Waterbury of the Connecticut Water Company.
“She’s one of the biggest reasons it got done,” Nye said.
Nye said she learned from Waterbury the importance of following through and not to procrastinate on tasks. Additionally, Nye said that Public Works Director Peter Neff deserves thanks for his “flexibility, support, organization, and encouragement to this town project.”
Nye said she has received some positive feedback by visitors to the park that have noticed the work. Nye said she also received a letter of congratulations for her work from Selectman Carol Walter. Nye said she was happy to help the town community.
“The Husky Leadership Program teaches us to give back to the community,” Nye said. “Students at Morgan care about giving back.”