Dog Park Could Open In Stratford As Soon As Spring 2020

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford dog owners and their four-legged friends may have a new place to play as soon as the coming spring.

Work has been underway for years to bring a dog park to Stratford and now the effort is nearing fruition, according to Sean Haubert, president of Friends of Jared's Dog Park.

A subcommittee tasked with finding a location for the park recommended Roosevelt Forest and the town approved the site in 2017. The park area includes an acre for large dogs and about a half-acre for small dogs, and is located at the former Ranger Station site, across the street from the police department shooting range.

"We tried to keep the area as natural as possible," Haubert said, adding that the park will feature shade trees and wood chips. "... Everybody's just really excited."

The group behind the dog park plan is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is seeking donations to raise the roughly $40,000 needed to get the park up and running, according to Haubert. The first phase of construction was nearing completion in late November.

"We have to raise a lot more money for the fencing," Haubert said during an interview around that time.

Among those assisting with the project are Robert and Karen Kier Levine, parents of Jared Levine, the park's namesake. The Levines donated a significant amount to the dog park effort in memory of their son, a craftsman, first responder and animal lover who died in 2016 at age 36.

Friends of Short Beach and Mellow Monkey Gifts and Home Decor have also been helping to generate funds for the park, and Sterling House Community Center partnered with Friends of Jared's Dog Park for a community service day earlier in December at the site. Local Boy Scouts built a sign for the park and a Girl Scout troop constructed obstacles for the dogs.

"It's really just a community effort," Haubert said.

The dog park's Board of Directors will be planning fundraisers for the project in early January, he said.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/jaredsdogpark or www.jaredsdogpark.com.