Friends of Violet Township Dog Park

Begins to Wind Down Its Efforts.

Construction of the Violet Township Dog Park is nearing completion! As fund raising for this construction effort was the major goal of the “Friends of Violet Township Dog Park”, we are beginning to reduce our overall responsibility for reporting on the progress of fund raising, park construction and operation.  The community support has been amazing! The members of the Board of Directors of the “Friends” and our many volunteers owe all those that have helped, participated and donated a huge, sincere “THANK YOU.  When we first began the “Friends” efforts, we and the community were offered the opportunity to show our financial and community support for the first Dog Park in Fairfield County.  The community, from the youngest kindergarten student, to corporations such as SAM’s Club responded magnificently and soon the park will be a reality.

Detailed Construction progress, as of the end of May, is provided below.  This will be the last status report on fund raising, construction, and opening provided by the “Friends”.  From this point forward this type of information will be provided by Violet Township through their normal administrative channels.

We will begin to reduce information on this web site in the orderly transition from fund raising by the “Friends” to park completion, opening and operation by the “Township”.  A full accounting of the efforts of the “Friends” will be provided, in the near future, as our efforts come to a close and Violet Township efforts increase to normal park operation and maintenance.  To that end much of the “Friends” informational material is being removed from the web site.

Welcome to the website of Friends of Violet Township Dog Park in Pickerington, Ohio!

The “Friends” is a non-profit charitable organization which was formed in October 2009 to raise funds to help finance a dog park in Violet Township.  It will be the first dog park in Fairfield County and will be located at the corner of Stemen and Pickerington Road/Center Street.  It will be fenced and dogs can run off-leash.  As Fairfield County continues to grow and open spaces diminish, dog owners find it more difficult to locate places to exercise their pets. Many citizens living in homes with smaller yards or restrictions on fencing seek places to take their pets.  Dog parks provide a place where people and their dogs can exercise and socialize safely.

Dog owners know how important it is for the dog, and also the community, to have a well exercised and socialized pet. Studies show that these pets are far better neighbors than those dogs who never have a chance to run free in a safe environment. When they are better socialized with other dogs and people they become less aggressive.

Our primary agenda has been to raise funds to match what the Violet Township Trustees hade agreed to provide, in addition to providing the land. We are very grateful that the trustees recognize the importance of this project and are working so closely with us.

The surrounding community, residents, businesses and organizations have been totally supportive of this effort with fund raising started in January 2009.

The Friends have far exceeded reaching their goal through the cash donations and gifts in kind!!  This has been accomplished through direct solicitation of local businesses and organizations, private donations from community members, mass mailings and dozens of fund raising events.  Our Donors and Events pages provide additional information on donations. 

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AS OF THE END OF MAY 2011

The Friends have directly contributed the following:

-          Vinyl coated 5 foot fencing:  Installed in May 2011

-          Benches and Dog Waste Disposal Systems (4 each):  Delivered in    November 2010

-          Trees received as donations

-          Commercial Picnic Table(s):  To be delivered prior to opening

-          Park Sign with Donor Recognition ($250 and above):  To be delivered prior to opening.

The Township has provided for the following:

-          Land

-          Asphalt Path

-          Culvert

-          Water Line

-          Grading and Initial Seeding

-          Water Fountains:  To be installed prior to opening.

-          Rules Sign:  To be installed prior to opening

The Eastside Messenger, This Week Community Newspaper Pickerington, Pickerington Times Sun, Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Columbus Dispatch and the Pickerington Magazine have also shown their interest and support with their articles published over the past year.  Please look to these newspapers and the Violet Township website for future updates on the park opening.

http://www.violet.oh.us