After less than four months, Chris Rodriguez-Stanley and Friends of Ronceverte (FoR) have officially met the $30,000 fund raising goal for The Ronceverte Island Dog Park. The community-based fundraising effort will give Greenbrier County the only dog park in southern West Virginia.
“I am so inspired by the community and everyone’s excitement about the dog park,” said Chris Rodriguez-Stanley, a Ronceverte native and the ideator of the dog park. “I have been in close contact with Ronceverte Mayor Deena Pack and City Administrator Pam Mentz. They are so excited to bring this dog part to fruition.”
The fundraising was accomplished in two parts. First, Rodriguez-Stanley secured a grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the James F. B. Peyton Fund. The grant secured the first $15,000 towards the dog park. Once the grant was received, Rodriguez-Stanley and FoR worked together to mobilize the community to raise the remaining balance. Individuals, teams, and businesses answered the call, and after an anonymous donation Jan. 10, the full $30,000 has officially been raised.
“I am so happy that Friends of Ronceverte was able to participate in raising the funds for the Ronceverte dog park,” said Heather Masters, the president of Friends of Ronceverte. “Thanks to everyone that has helped and donated thus far. This journey has just begun and I’m sure we will need more community involvement as it continues. Friends of Ronceverte is excited to see the dog park become a reality and how it will help Ronceverte grow.”
There still isn’t a timeline for when construction of the dog park will begin but the city has surveyed the land and multiple versions of the map of been drawn up for approval.
“Ronceverte is on the rise and this dog park is just the first step in Ronceverte’s revival,” said Rodriguez-Stanley. “I am so excited for Ronceverte’s future.”