EASTHAMPTON — The Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park was denied its request for $31,000 in Community Preservation Act funding to begin work at the future site of the dog park within Nonotuck Park. The city’s Parks and Recreation Committee denied the request during its April 9 meeting.
The Parks and Recreation meeting took place to review the different organization’s CPA applications for projects at Nonotuck Park for this round of CPA funds. They ultimately decided to not move forward on the dog park request as they noted the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park was only asking for funding to support an initial phase of its work.
“I went with a couple of board members to find out what exactly they are looking for because we have the approval site and the draft schematics,” said Friends of Easthampton Dog Park President Joan Kurtz. “They pointed out that the way the Parks and Rec. looks at funds for anything in the park, such as a pickleball court, or expand the soccer field, they need to see that the funds are available for the entire project so that they know when they start, it will be able to be finished.”
The $31,000 request would have gone toward the first phase of constructing the park, which requires tree removal.
“The first step in building the dog park in Nonotuck Park is the removal of the trees that would be inside of the dog park,” explained Kurtz. “[They] are what we call signature trees, which are the really healthy, large ones that we are not touching. We want trees in the park for shade and also acting as buffers for the rest of the park. There are a lot of saplings, dead trees, that have to be removed for safety purposes and just to give us more space. But we are leaving it as green as possible.”
In full, the project is estimated to cost $360,000. The Easthampton Parks and Recreation Commission voted in December to have the future dog park be constructed on the parcel between Pavilion 3 and Booster Field within Nonotuck Park.
Kurtz said the Friends had not requested the entirety of funding for the project through the CPA, as they thought they would be able to secure some at this point to begin the process before coming back for the additional funds.
“Therefore it was determined that the Parks and Rec. could not approve it, and they have to before the CPA can,” Kurtz added.
The group is continuing to call on the public to get involved through its “Sponsorship Solicitation.” Those who fill out the form can pledge some financial assistance for the new park.
Those looking for more information or to support the new dog park project can email easthamptondogpark@gmail.com to receive a sponsorship form to be filled out and mailed in. Pledges are encouraged to be submitted before the May 17 meeting so the group can demonstrate sincerity and passionate support from the community backing the project.
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 a “Top Dog.”
Other levels of pledges include a $1,000 pledge, $500 and $250. Actual monies will not be needed until early fall but will be accepted at any time.
As the Friends of the Easthampton Dog Park take a step back to reconfigure its approach, Kurtz said they will continue to call on the public for support as they rework a future request and approach to securing the needed CPA funding.
“Now we’re just going to go full speed ahead and do even much more. We would like to get this going, but again, we all understand now the process,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz shared that the Friends will be meeting with Parks and Recreation sometime in May to further discuss what a new request should look like.
Kurtz reiterated this project was not requesting a single dime from the city itself and it has always been something they aimed to accomplish solely through community support.
“We are not expecting any taxes or any funds from the city, and we’ve always said that,” Kurtz said. “A number of people have done public speak and said, ‘I don’t want a dog park.’ We don’t want any funds. We will constantly be fundraising because there’s only so much park and rec can do, and we don’t want to overburden them.”
If the dog park is to be constructed one day, additional purchases will only be needed for maintenance tools for the park. They also plan to feature a dog poop converter that uses the waste and converts it to energy to light the park.
“It will generate light and make clean up a lot easier. And environmentally, why not,” Kurtz added.
For more information on how to get involved, email easthamptondogpark@gmail.com.
