The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
RAISING FUNDS
Pop-up mini dog park raises awareness for a permanent enclosure
ONEIDA, N.Y. » Raising funds for a dog park in Oneida has not been an easy task for the Oneida Improvement Committee (OIC), a not-for-profit that’s leading the project. To help encourage dialogue on the topic and raise awareness for the need for this community asset, the organization set up a mini dog park across from city hall on Friday.
The exhibit was part of Park(ing) Day, a global, public, participatory art project launched by Rebar in 2005. It is a day where people across the world temporarily repurpose street parking spaces and convert them into tiny parks and places for art, play, and activism. After landing a $1,000 grant from Spin and The Better Block for the exhibit, OIC used the Park(ing) Day funds for a project with their own twist: Bark(ing) Day.
Located within two parking spaces across from city hall, the exhibit consisted of pads of grass, chain link fencing, benches, a dog waste disposal station, shade structures, and doggy pools. Items that can be reused will find their way to the permanent dog park when it’s constructed.
OIC Vice President Michele Farwell commented on what makes a dog park an asset for Oneida. Canine social spaces are important for not only the animals’ well-being, but also their owners’. Dog parks create a safe space for comingling of like-minded residents who love their dogs and are looking for a place to play. Some residents say they support the park because they themselves don’t have access to a fenced-in yard where it’s safe for their pets to
“We really want the community to have a stake in this. So, fundraising for it is not just about asking for the money, it’s also about having people understand the need for it and supporting it themselves.” — OIC Vice President Michele Farwel
stretch their legs off-leash.
There’s also a community health component too, Farwell explained, as proof of rabies vaccination would be required prior to gaining access to the dog park. For those dogs still needing their shots, the OIC can connect owners with veterinary resources in the community, including Madison County rabies clinics. The motivation to use this community space could get more pooches inoculated and reduce risk in the community.
Getting a dog park in Oneida has been a long time coming. Farwell explained that before the OIC took over the project in 2019, a local 4H group was trying to get the idea off the ground. Their efforts had resulted in about $100 funds raised.
Then, with the OIC just taking the reigns, the pandemic hit, and the dog-parkdream took a blow. Fundraising has been slow-rolling.
The OIC has finally been able to make moves after meeting with Parks and Recreation Director Luke Griff in July to establish a budget and go over dog-park plans. With the mayor’s already acquired approval, the dog park is set to be built behind the recreation center on Cedar Street. Farwell says that the fencing alone is estimated to cost $10,000. Currently, the team has just under $1,000 to go towards the project.
Originally, the plan was to place the park in the Oneida flats, a marked area known for flooding that must meet certain criteria for development. “It was just not something that was possible,” Farwell said after the OIC’S consideration. The potential for plumbing and other fixtures to be installed at the dog park would make the flats a no-go.
Having the park at the rec center comes with its perks; when the center is open, the restrooms and other privileges of the inside can be used. The rec center’s proximity may also be a symbiotic relationship for the two entities as users come in to use one, the other, or both. OIC Treasurer/secretary Patti Meakin noted that the OIC’S role in all this is to lessen the burden on city government to make Oneida a better place. “The city’s got enough on their plate,” she said. Fun projects like the Oneida Rail Trail and the dog park are exactly the type of things the OIC can handle. But the organization also focuses on other improvement projects, like the Community Cats Committee aimed at creating a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program to reduce the population of feral/abandoned cats in the area.
Additionally, the OIC is soon taking applications for its Youth Sports Scholarship. The program awards young residents with financial access to activities like Oneida Pop Warner, little league, dance classes, and more. Farwell said this year, the scholarships won’t be necessarily based on need, but on character and sportsmanship. “We really want the community to have a stake in this,” Farwell said of the dog park. “So, fundraising for it is not just about asking for the money, it’s also about having people understand the need for it and supporting it themselves.” Getting the community talking is one component, which the OIC hoped to achieve with their temporary exhibit. The OIC will also host a brick fundraiser so residents can make their mark along the park’s entranceway and around benches. Sponsorships will also be available.
The OIC’S fundraising goal for the dog park is $20,000 minimum. Ideally, $30,000 should be met to make the park a dynamic enclosure with all the bells and whistles like water fixtures, play structures, and more to make it really engaging, Farwell said.
Community Bank donated $250 to the cause on Bark(ing) Day.
To learn more about the OIC’S progress in making an Oneida dog park a reality and other programs and events, follow the Oneida Improvement Committee on Facebook.