EASTHAMPTON — The Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park have received a $200,000 donation toward the new dog park project, helping make the reality of the future park to be put inside of Nonotuck Park much more attainable.
Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park President Joan Kurtz told Reminder Publishing that in September the group was emailed by a local accountant on behalf of a client who wanted to make a donation to the park.
Little did Kurtz know, the donation would be of such a large scale.
“I was shocked. I swelled up with tears,” said Kurtz on her reaction to the inquiry. “What does one say to that when you’re not expecting it? It’s just jaw-dropping.”
The donation is coming from Richard Boyle, a former Easthampton resident who now lives in Southampton and is a “dog lover,” according to Kurtz.
“The Board of the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park are thrilled to announce a remarkable donation of $200,000 to the Easthampton Dog Park from Richard Boyle of Southampton,” said Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park Vice President Ken Iavecchia through a Facebook post on the news. “This generous contribution comes as unrestricted funds, allowing us to enhance and expand our beloved park for our furry friends and their owners. Richard, your incredible support will make a lasting impact on the surrounding communities. We are grateful for your belief in our mission and your commitment to improving the lives of dogs and their families. Watch us build!”
Kurtz called the $200,000 donation a “game changer” as they figured most of the funding outside of their fundraising efforts would come from grant opportunities that “are very hard to find.”
Kurtz explained construction will most likely not begin on the project until the end of 2026, possibly the beginning of 2027, as they will still need to raise around another $130,000 to fully fund the work.
“That’s a heck of a lot more doable,” said Kurtz.
The Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park will be going in front of the CPA Committee on Oct. 16 with a request for $23,500 in funds to pay Canon Landscape Architecture to put together the cost to bid and the documents needed for the actual construction. Kurtz asked residents interested in the success of the project to come to the meeting and speak in support of the construction of the dog park.
“This will cover the rest of the [Canon] fee to work on the dog park. Then between now and next year, we will put in [a] request for whatever money we have not been yet able to raise,” she added. “Hopefully they will support us come next year.”
The Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in September at the American Legion and were able to raise almost $2,000 from the night. She added they were also able to show the current schematics set for the park’s design during the dinner with many in the public who were not caught up-to-date with where things stand.
Kurtz said they plan to continue hosting fundraisers and selling merchandise for the park as they look to continue raising money for the future dog park.
“Between the Cultural Chaos, the two farmers markets we go to during the summer, National Dog Day in August, Winter Fest, Jesse’s Ride, any time there is any sort of event that we can table and get our name out there we will to try and get our supporters and funds,” said Kurtz. “With all of that, we’ll chip away at that $130,000 and whatever’s left we’ll see if the CPA can continue funding it. Then hopefully by 2027 it will be done.”
In the meantime, the Friend’s “Sponsorship Solicitation” option is still available for people looking to support the project. Those who fill out the form can pledge financial assistance for the new park through donations or sponsoring additions to the park.
Through the Sponsorship Solicitation, those who get involved will have a few options of donating toward the project including a dog waste station, engravings in the park, and a pet fountain and rinse station. The “Top Dog Sponsorship” includes a commitment of $2,500 or more and includes naming rights of a dog park feature of amenity, being listed as a sponsor or donor signage, special recognition at the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting, and recognition on the park’s website and social media as “Top Dog.”
Other levels of pledge include a $1,000 pledge, $500 and $250. To learn more or get involved with the Sponsorship Solicitation, visit easthamptondogpark.org/donors-and-sponsors.
Kurtz added on the $200,000 donation, “It’s a game changer. It takes a lot of pressure off us trying to scramble all the time to make $50 here, or $25. Not everybody has $50 so we’ll keep picking and going knowing that the light at the end of the tunnel is there, and it’s not a train coming at us, it’s us actually achieving our goal.”
