Please allow me this opportunity to provide information about the Marietta Community Dog Park at Jackson Hill Park, its funding sources, and the volunteers and organizations that made it possible. The Marietta Community Dog Park volunteers are a group of people who have common ground with one another, our dogs. We are rich and poor, employed, unemployed, old and young, of various cultural backgrounds, every political persuasion. We believe a dog park is a healthy use of park land because we enjoy being outdoors with our dogs, and enjoy letting them run off-leash in a safely enclosed area. The Marietta Community Dog Park project began in earnest two years ago. For more than two years prior, the groundwork was being laid in preparation for the project. Through the generosity of Ron and Louise Holmes who provided seed money, we were able to open a fund with the Marietta Community Foundation. The MCF continues as our fiscal agent. Many others have donated money to this fund over the years.
Two years ago, Court Witschey, Healthy Communities Coordinator at the Washington County Health Department contacted our group. After several discussions it was decided that the park was an appropriate recipient for a small part of the Public Health Services Block Grant, a federal grant that the Washington County Health Department receives through the Ohio Department of Health. Mr. Witschey has applied for additional funding (2013) to be used at Jackson Hill Park to refurbish the basketball courts and to purchase benches and plant trees. Without Court Witschey the park would still be in the planning stages.
Thank you to the Lowe's Heroes, a group of Lowe's Marietta employees who gave of their time and energy to contribute to the community. At the company's request they are identified by first names only: David, Julian, Jim, Jason, Kevin1, Kevin2, Ryan, Cathy, and Velvet. Lowe's was able to obtain and donate sheet metal roofing from Quality Metal Roofing in Illinois to be used on a new, to-be-constructed picnic shelter for Jackson Park. In addition Lowe's contributed tools, and drainage pipe and provided a discounted price to our group.
Thank you to Councilman Harley Noland who four years ago saw the value of the park, and to the previous members of the City Council and former Mayor Mullen who created legislation allowing the park to proceed. Thank you the current members of City Council, Attorney Bertram, Tom Kunz, Todd Stockel, Chad, and to Mayor Matthews for supporting this endeavor.
I wish to thank the volunteers, many who, like me, are first-time community volunteers. Without them the park would not exist. Please take a moment to thank them for their time and energy when you see them: Arlene Walters, John Kidd, Jessica Fox, Jason Dunn, Ryan Matheny, Phil Hable, Tom and Carol Kukulka, Steve Blocker, Dick Boulton, Roger Kalter, Denver Abicht, Jack and Brenda Poyter, Erica, Austin, and Noah Yoho, Josh Schlicher, Leight Murray, Gary Gaughan, Wayne Goglin, Katie Lustofin, Dean Parks, Misty Perry-Durham, Michael Durham, Jim and Sylvie Caporale, David Garcia, Court Whitschey, Mark Ruff, and the boys and girls from the Washington County Juvenile Center. Thank you, Don Furler, for your expertise with a backhoe and in helping us place drainage for the park. Thank you Discount Signs and Awnings and United Rentals. If I have missed any volunteer, please forgive me. Thank you Bar-B-Cutie for providing lunch for some hard-working people in September. Thank you so much Russ Cogswell for all your help and discounts at Apex Feed & Supply.
Thank you to all of those who have donated money to our Marietta Community Dog Park Fund! It appears to be money well spent.
Teresa Asselin-Hayes spearheaded the movement to establish the Marietta Community Dog Park at Jackson Hill Park. She lives in Marietta.
