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November 23, 2004

Pet Supplies Plus helps launch Grand Rapids’s first off-leash dog park

At today’s Grand Rapids City Commission meeting, it was announced that the area’s first off-leash dog park on public property will open in April, 2005. The selected site is a 1+ acre shaded area within Hillcrest Park at the intersection of Lyon and Benjamin NE.

The announcement is the result of a vision and fund drive spearheaded by a taskforce of local citizens— the Grand Rapids Dog Park Enthusiasts (GRDPE)— formed in 2002. The group worked with the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department and area businesses to help realize this dream of dog lovers and their pooches. Most notably, pet retailer Pet Supplies Plus stepped forward as the major corporate funding partner. Bissell, Inc., the Gerber Foundation, Plenty Creative, Integra Printing, and Agio Imaging based in Kalamazoo also provided significant support. And over 150 individual contributors helped underwrite the effort with amounts ranging from $5 to $5,000.

Jay Steffen, Director of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, said, “This process took much time and effort. It goes to show what can happen when government, business and committed citizens join forces. All parties can proudly point to this park as a site that makes Grand Rapids a better community for people and their pets.”

During the fall of 2003, GRDPE worked with the Parks and Recreation Department to develop a full set of objectives, site criteria, and dog park rules. “We reviewed other dog parks across the country and determined the features that were especially appropriate for our community and budget,” said Dottie Rhodes, GRPDE member. “However, the City’s budget cuts forced us to shift gears and move from our role as an advisory group into a full fund-raising mode.”

In the spring of 2004, the previously allocated budget for the dog park was cut as part of overall City budget belt-tightening. GRDPE addressed the City Commission and committed to raising the money privately if the City would provide the land for a location.

On August 10, 2004 after an open review with the Fulton Heights Neighborhood Association, the City designated the site at Hillcrest Park.

Dave Kagan, another member of GRDPE said, “In a tight economy we hoped that our determination and enthusiasm would be enough to help us deliver on our pledge to the City and to our four-legged friends.”

It was. The group contacted numerous businesses and also held a fall fund-raiser at the park. The “Every Dog Has its Day” event on October 2 raised over $2,300. “More importantly,” Kagan added, “that one day event showed potential corporate backers the overwhelming enthusiasm for this type of facility.”

“Our business is helping people and their pets nurture one another,” said Jill DeJager, Executive Assistant, Pet Supplies Plus. “An off-leash park is a great way for pets to become well-socialized and properly exercised. We wanted to help make it happen.”

Over the next few months, and as weather allows, a number of site preparation activities will occur. All of which are geared towards an April, 2005 opening of the facility.

Posted by Gwen at November 23, 2004 10:57 AM

Comments

Woof, woof!
Ollie

Posted by: dave at November 23, 2004 11:33 AM