A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support a new dog park being planned in South Haven.
Organizer Robert Linstrom tells us the South Haven Bark Park at Riverwoods would be the first public dog park in the community.
“We have had a little members-only dog park for the last 15 years in South Haven,” Linstrom said. “Just a small fenced-in area that’s been donated by the Do It Corporation and their CEO, Mark Mcclendon. It’s been an okay thing…It’s just open field and a lot of fencing. And there’s been a dream in South Haven for the development of a municipal dog park open to all with some involvement from city or townships to provide maintenance and administration.”
The South Haven Bark Park will be located on the 49-acre Riverwoods property, which was acquired by the South Haven Area Recreation Authority from the state last year. They’ve got big plans for the Bark Park.
“It’s a combination of a beautiful stand of woods and open areas for dogs to run and play games. It’s going to be just a great resource to our community. There will be a small dog park area of about a half acre and then about four acres of the large dog park area.”
That’s not all.
“This summer we hope to have a gazebo and some agility stations for dogs. Certainly water, which we’ve not had at the other location. It’s just going to be a great destination dog park for the greater South Haven area.”
Linstrom says the goal is to raise $180,000 to make the park possible, paying for amenities like the fencing and utilities.
“The fencing itself is about an $88,000 project to do it right with good six-foot fencing. So it’s not a half million [dollars] or anything like that. Our overall budget’s $180,000.”
The cost of the municipal water hookup would be another expense.
The Bark Park project has received a boost from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in the form of a $50,000 Public Spaces Community Places matching grant. Lindstrom says if the crowdfunding campaign now underway can raise $50,000 in the next 60 days, then it will be doubled by that MEDC program. With much support for the Bark Park in the community, Linstrom believes the goal can be reached, taking the project past its overall goal.
“The enthusiasm and word of mouth in our community is high. And I think that there is an excitement that there will finally be a municipal dog park open to all residents, visitors, anyone. We’re going to work on some development that allows it to be not fully barrier-free at this point, but maybe in the future, a barrier-free park. But we’re working on making it accessible for folks with those needs.”
You can find the Bark Park’s crowdfunding campaign and learn more right here.
Photo: the Riverwoods site where the Bark Park will be located.
