The Ronceverte Island Dog Park fundraising is going strong. Several local businesses and community members have answered the call to help bring the first and only dog park in southern West Virginia to fruition. In addition to the $15,000 grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and James F. B. Peyton Fund, local businesses have pledged to help raise the remaining balance to begin the work on the upcoming Ronceverte Island Dog Park.
“It’s an honor and pleasure to be collaborating with so many wonderful folks and organizations in both Ronceverte and surrounding areas to create a wonderful park and play area for our furry friends,” Ronceverte Mayor Deena Pack says. “This dog park is just one of the new experiences we hope to bring to Ronceverte in the months and years to come.”
Harmony Ridge Gallery announced that their First Friday Dog Park Fun Raiser generated $2,100 as their contribution to the Ronceverte Island Dog Park. The gallery is donating profits from First Friday sales as well as money raised through a raffle and direct cash donations. The enthusiasm for the dog park from Ronceverte and neighboring Lewisburg is a testament to the desire for a safe place for dogs to socialize and exercise.
Residents in Ronceverte have stepped up as well to make the dog park a reality. Some people, like Tanya Hazelwood who owns Wild Child Hodgepodgery, have hosted events to raise money. Hazelwood hosted a paint by the river fundraiser to use art as a way to make the dog park a reality in Ronceverte.
“I’m happy to be a small part of the community effort to bring the first dog park to our area,” Angie Gary, a Ronceverte resident who pledged to be a team leader in fundraising for the dog park, says. “The Ronceverte Island Park is such a wonderful resource in the city and I am so excited to see it expand to offer people and their dogs more activities.”
Other businesses who have pledged to raise money to help build the dog park include Kilcollin Dental, Greenbrier Home Inspections, Jim’s Drive-In, Mountain Momma Consignment and More, and Grist Real Estate.
While the support from local businesses has been exciting, seeing individual community members take up the torch to raise funds as well has been inspiring. Residents of Ronceverte and Lewisburg have pledged to create their own fundraising teams.
“When Chris Rodriguez-Stanley, and his husband Jorge, mentioned the possibility of a dog park, my husband, Eli, and I were more than happy to help raise funds and do anything we could to help unleash the potential of the underutilized space for a park,” Sarah Driggers, a Lewisburg resident who pledged to be a team leader in fundraising for the dog park, says. “A dog park, not only allows for a place for dogs to play, but brings together like-minded owners, thereby connecting and growing our community.”
As of Nov. 6, Friends of Ronceverte has raised more than $7,000 in donations through community involvement, business pledges, and direct donations. The fundraising effort for the dog park has become a larger community effort showing that by working together there is nothing Greenbrier County can’t do.
“I never doubted that we would be able to raise this money and that’s because of this incredible community,” Chris Rodriguez-Stanley, the ideator of the Ronceverte Island Dog Park, says. “Yet, I am still shocked at all of the different ways people and businesses have answered the call to bring a wonderful dog park to Greenbrier County. It’s been so inspiring to see all of the people ready to make this happen. It makes you wonder what else is possible for Ronceverte.”
If you would like to donate to the Ronceverte Island Dog Park, you can donate via PayPal at the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TPB2NEFWFAWUJ.
