To the editor:
As chair of the all-volunteer Portsmouth Dog Park Committee, I have had the privilege of watching this new dog park come to life. There is something very special that happens here …
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To the editor:
As chair of the all-volunteer Portsmouth Dog Park Committee, I have had the privilege of watching this new dog park come to life. There is something very special that happens here from dawn until dusk, every day, all year-round, in all kinds of weather. Watching our dogs romp together, we find common ground with folks we’d otherwise never meet. This is where strangers become friends.
I was so moved by the joy our furry friends gave to their humans that I decided to capture the moment by taking portraits of the proud doggie parents lovingly cradling their pooches in sweet and funny and touching poses at the Dog Park. More than 200 of these family photos are posted on our website. I invite you to look at them at: https://portsmouthdogparkri.com/our-photos.
None of this would be possible without the overwhelming support of the community and the Town of Portsmouth, as well as the generous contributions of the van Beuren Foundation, the Merritt Neighborhood Fund of the Aquidneck Land Trust and the Rhode Island Foundation. More than $45,000 of the total cost of constructing the Portsmouth Dog Park was raised with small contributions from hundreds of individual and business donors from around the region. Recently I was able to announce to the Portsmouth Town Council that we paid off the town’s $30,000 loan in full!
The Portsmouth Dog Park Committee is already planning new initiatives to enhance the Park, like installing solar lighting for those dark winter days, strengthening the sod foundation and planting trees to replace the eight trees that fell during last season’s storms. The park is so popular that we are exploring the possibilities of clearing more land, expanding parking and creating an agility exercise area.
Sadly, some of our friends in our family photos have come and gone, like our traveling neighbors at the Melville RV camp grounds and visitors posted at the Naval War College, NUWC, and other Naval stations. Whether you’re a dog park regular or just passing through, we are always delighted to welcome new friends from near and far.
On behalf of the dogs and their humans, we want to thank the entire community for your support. We are deeply grateful.
Jane Regan
Chairwoman, Portsmouth Dog Port Committee
Middletown