RED LAKE -- The residents of Red Lake are preparing for the rise of new dog park to be built at the Buffalo St. turnaround.
A handful of dog owners have been working towards having a dog park in the community since 2018. Funding has now been approved, and the community is excited to get the project underway.
The majority of the money was funded by the municipality. The funding covered the cost of fencing, two shelters, benches and more. This left about $9,800 for sod and additional costs for its delivery to be raised by the community.
The land is owned by Evolution Mining, and will be leased by the Municipality of Red Lake and they will be in charge of maintaining the park. It is 340 feet by 90 feet, the whole area will be completely fenced in. There will be two separate areas, one for large dogs and one for small dogs.
Prior Lucky Mutt’s leader Lisa Haney had approached the municipality about opening a dog park in Red Lake back in 2014. A piece of land in Cochenour was offered to the dog club, but fell through due to neighbourhood complaints. This new location is in a less populated area, and has been accepted by the community.
Heading up the fundraising efforts is Dayle Cottrell, a member of the Dog Park Fundraising Committee.
“Having a dog park will be a great addition to the town by providing a safe place for dogs to be off leash,” says Cottrell.
Fundraising efforts have been started with donation jars decorated by the student at the St. Johns school that will be place around town; and a bake sale at the Balmertown Skating Club’s end of year show last weekend where they raised just over $1500. There are plans for additional fundraising events to come this spring, which include a social with a Chinese auction on April 30 at 9 p.m. at the Balmer Hotel in Balmertown.
“The community has been in need of a dog park for many many years,” says Lucky Mutt’s volunteer Agathe Breton-Plouffe.
Breton-Plouffe has been working with the dog park fundraising group as well as operating the Lucky Mutt’s Art with Heart Auction Facebook group. Art With Heart Auction is a group where people and business’s donate art or items to be auctioned off every week to raise money to support the dog club.
There is a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the dog park and etransfers can also be sent to [email protected].
The town hopes to see the park open this summer.
