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10/05/2022 08:30 AMIf you’re a local dog owner chances are you’ve taken the pup to play at Bailey’s Dog Park. The park is routinely cited as one of the best dog parks in the shoreline area thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Bailey’s Dog Park organization and volunteers like Nicki Korman.
In August 2021, Nicki started bringing her dogs Bella and Oliver to Bailey’s Dog Park at 141 Glenwood Road.
“I was at the park and started talking to Erin [Kanicki ] and was mentioning there were some things that I thought might be good ideas to add to the park or things that might be better, and she asked me if I would be interested in joining the Friend’s of Bailey of Bailey’s Dog Park,” recalls Nicki.
Officially started in January, the Friends of Bailey’s Dog Park is an entity that is not associated with the town but helps with improvements of the park. The town helps with items like hauling trash and providing waste bags, but the organization does tasks like posting the rules and regulations of the park and raising funds for the betterment and upkeep of the park.
Nicki stepped up to be the vice president of the organization where she says she works to support the president, solicit donations, and look at projects that can upgrade the park.
“We want things like a higher fence, a gazebo, and signage,” Nicki says of perspective projects. “We also have a future plan to maybe sell signage at the park to local companies.”
To help raise the needed funds for such projects there will be a very festive event at the park held later this month. On Saturday, Oct. 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. there will be a dog parade and costume contest at the park. It costs a $5 donation per family to enter. The event will feature raffles, door prizes, and contest prizes. Judging starts at 4:30 p.m.
“The money goes into an account to help with our goals,” explains Nicki. “We are always looking for new people, new ideas. Any nonprofit is always in need of funds and volunteer,” Nicki says. Interested volunteers can reach out to Nicki at dockorman@sbcglobal.net.
For Nicki – and many others – the dog park is something worth investing in.
“Compared to other parks, we’re top dog not to be funny,” Nicki says. “It’s just a really good park with a nice set up.”
Nicki states that spending time at the park isn’t just a fun time for her dogs it’s a fun time for the owners as well.
“I’m invested in the community. I like the social aspect for me and my dogs. It’s a social place for the dogs and the people as well,” Nicki says.
“I’ve been in this community a long time and I think it’s a good thing,” she adds.
The dog park isn’t the only place Nicki gets to show her love of animals. “ I volunteer at a raccoon rescue and rehabilitation center in Guilford and I have chickens too. ,” says Nicki. Besides volunteering at the dog park and raccoon center, Nicki says she likes to stay active, splitting wood, and riding motorcycles among other hobbies.
Nicki grew up in New York but moved to Clinton in the 1980s after a brief stint in Madison. For work, Nicki is a marriage and family therapist in private practice, a profession she’s been in for 34 years.
“I love it. People trust me enough to come for advice,” says Nicki.
Asked for her favorite thing about Clinton Nicki replies “For me it’s the location. I’m five minutes from the beach and five minutes from the parks and woods.”