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 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 is raising the funds to match what the Violet Township Trustees have 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. But we need the help of the surrounding community, residents, and businesses to get the park up and running.

Progress has been great!   As of the end of January 2010, we have a total of $30,500 in donations received.  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. 

The City of Pickerington approved the zoning request submitted by Violet Township.  The township plans to plow, grade and seed the land in the spring of 2010.  Board members obtained donations of 16 trees.  They were planted outside of what will be the fence line because the interior park area requires preparation and seeding.  The board members are pursuing gift donations toward fencing, benches and other planned items for the park.  They are organizing additional fund raising events this year, and continue searching and pursuing opportunities to apply for grant money. 

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.

The actual construction of the park and a projected opening date is dependant upon our ability to raise the additional funds required from the friends.  We hope that the park will open sometime this year!

To find more information on how you can help, or get more information on the park itself, please follow the links.