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Dog park goal is reached

ALPENA — Enough money has been raised to move forward with the construction of a dog park at North Riverside Park in Alpena. If things go smoothly it could be open early this summer, officials said.

Monday was the end of the Patronicity crowdfunding event, which had a goal of earning $6,000. If the goal was met the Michigan Economic Development Corporation would match that amount toward the project. At the conclusion of the crowdfunding event, more than $8,000 was raised so there is enough money to make the park a reality.

Alpena Planning and Development Director Adam Poll said the dog park is becoming a reality because there were many people in the community who pulled together to spearhead the effort, especially a local youth named Abby O’Bryan and a group of residents led by Alisha Manning.

Poll said the idea of having a dog park built has been on the city’s wish list for years, but budget contraints forced it to focus on other needs like public safety, health and streets.

“We have to balance a lot of different priorities and as good of an idea of having a dog park was, it would likely not have been funded for quite some time,” Poll said. “To have the community take the lead on this and help raise the money, along with MEDC, really made this project viable.”

Several locations were considered for the park, but it was decided the park behind the post office was best suited for everyone. Poll said originally the plan was basic and featured only a fenced in area, but as donations began to come in it was determined there should be more amenities.

“We decided if we were going to be near the center of the downtown we needed to really have it look nice and with the money from MEDC it makes it a lot better,” Poll said.

Besides having a safe, enclosed place for dog owners to play with their dog off of its leash, Poll said there will be natural landscaping, a water spigot, benches, picnic tables, a parking area with connecting walking paths and multiple mutt mitt stations.

Poll said now that the fundraising goal has been met, the city will put the project out for bids and after a contractor is chosen, work should begin shortly afterward. He said the city will maintain the park after construction is complete.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.

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