Friends of Medina Dog Park make fund-raising push

Group is close to meeting goal for first phase

Provided photo: Alaina Wilson, one of the leaders of the Friends of the Medina Dog Park, is pictured with David Burd, owner of the Blue Burds Nest. Burd made the sign for the new dog park.

MEDINA – A group that has been working for more than a year to plan and raise money for a dog park in Medina is close to reaching its fundraising goal for the first phase of the park.

The Friends of the Medina Dog Park has raised $10,000 so far out of a $15,000 goal for the park, which would be on North Gravel Road by the village’s compost plant.

The Friends is hoping to raise the remaining costs for the first phase during its 2nd Annual Dog Days of Summer on Aug. 24 at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina. That event from 2 to 8 p.m. includes food, music, raffles and other activities.

The first phase includes fencing for three enclosures – for small dogs, large dogs and an agility area. There will also be benches and waste stations with bags for dog poop.

Alaina Wilson has been leading the push for the dog park. If the group can reach the fundraising goal on Aug. 24, she said the enclosures could soon be erected with the park opening this fall.

With the second phase, The Friends of the Medina Dog Park wants to add agility equipment, and water and rinse stations.

The Medina Village Board agreed to set aside about 1 acre of the land at the former compost plant for the dog park. The dog park would be the first in Orleans County.

Wilson said the park will be a place to take dogs for exercise, and to work on training and social skills. She said the park will draw visitors to Medina, boosting the local economy.