Just as our favorite 4-legged companions have evolved over time, the Middlebury Dog Park Group had humble origins. In the fall of 2014, a community discussion on Front Porch Forum led a group of like-minded dog owners to come together to discuss the possibility of a dog park in Middlebury. On September 17, the first meeting of the group was held in the Ilsley Library’s Community Meeting Room. The
group met sporadically for the next year with the primary focus being, as they say, location, location, location! In the late fall of 2015 an approximately 2-acre site next to the Middlebury Regional Emergency and Medical Services (MREMS) was identified. Under the auspices of the Town, the group entered into lease negotiations with Middlebury College, who graciously agreed to provide the land for just $1 per year. The winter of 2016 was spent socializing the idea in the community. Members of the group met with Porter Hospital and MREMS officials, held open community meetings, and presented before the Middlebury Selectboard to address questions and concerns. The group was represented at the new Middlebury Parks and Recreation Center Open House on March 2. These outreach activities garnered public support and seed money donations. In March, the group formalized as a Committee of the Parks and Recreation Department. The committee consisted of eight members with staggered terms of 1-3 years. The committee had 5 at-large members, one representative from the Town of Middlebury, one representative from Middlebury College, and one representative from Homeward Bound, Addison County’s Humane Society, as follows:
* Drew Campbell, Chair
* Kathy Nilsson, Vice Chair
* Logan Price, Treasurer
* Terri Arnold, Town of Middlebury Parks & Rec
* Dave Donahue, Middlebury College
* Jessica Danyow, Homeward Bound
* JoAnne Gruber, at-large member
* Mark Wilch, at-large member
The committee, which was responsible for fundraising and maintaining the park, met regularly and opened meetings to the public for participation in fundraising, operations, and stewardship activities. In the spring of 2017, the group completed raising the basic up-front costs and held an official opening and "leash cutting" on Saturday, May 13. We started out with a big fenced-in field (with two sections for large and small dogs). However, dog parks are much more fun with park benches, agility equipment, shade trees, and other amenities. Our long-term vision is to get a water supply too, as we're currently a bring-your-own-water affair. And above all else, we need maintenance funds to sustain us for years into the future. Eventually, the committee decided to disband and change the structure of park governance to a stewardship model. All park users are expected to play a role in day-to-day and long term maintenance, fundraising, project support and reinforcement of the rules. Quarterly meetings are held and open to all who have an interest in the running of the Middlebury Dog Park. Please consider donating to improve and sustain the park. Contributions can made to the Town of Middlebury by noting “Dog Park” in the memo line. For questions or comments, please send a message to this page.
