The village of Wittenberg could be starting its own dog park, if enough people donate to the project.
More than 500 letters were sent out to residents seeking donations, according to Theresa Gatz, one of the people spearheading the project and a Wittenberg Village Board member. The area being considered is an old landfill located behind Subway and Taco John’s at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and North Meisner Street.
The project is already well on its way, with a $10,000 donation for the park announced Aug. 22.
According to Gatz, the parcel consists of 5 acres, and there will be entrances on the east and west sides. There will be two areas — one for small dogs and one for large.
“Last year, we were in talks because there were people that wanted to put a storage facility for people to rent out,” Gatz said. “The area used to be an old landfill, and they can’t dig into the ground where the landfill was, so you’re very limited with what can be done there. Then the idea came up during our meeting about, ‘Well, what about a dog park?’ We kind of joked about it, but we liked the idea.”
The location is ideal, Gatz said, with its proximity to state Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 45. Gatz noted that with travelers using both highways to get around the state, and with many tourists bringing their furry friends along, the Wittenberg dog park would be ideal for visitors needing to stop, stretch their legs and get something to eat.
“Everybody’s passing through from Wausau to Green Bay, or coming from the north to go down south for the weekend,” Gatz said.
When 2024 started, Gatz and other interested residents really brought up the idea in earnest, making plans for what the park would look like and what could be accomplished.
“In the last few months, I’ve been working with a couple of contractors just to try and see what can be done to give us the vision we want in the end,” Gatz said.
There’s no estimate yet on how much the project will cost, but Gatz is hopeful the work can be completed next spring to make the dog park a reality. She said there have been multiple estimates for how much fencing would cost, noting the group is looking at a 6-foot wire fence with dark brown wooden posts.
“Instead of going with the galvanized metal chain-link fencing, we’re kind of trying to put more thought into it and make it a little nicer, kind of blending in with the environment, since it’s in a woodsy area,” Gatz said. “It’s surrounded by woods, so it’ll be a little more high appealing, I guess you could say.”
Gatz said the biggest challenge is clearing out a few of the trees so bulldozers can get in to work on the land and clear away brush.
“That’s the big part right now,” Gatz said. “That’s the hardest part.”
She added that the park will be built and maintained solely by donations. Kiosks will be in place so visitors know the rules, as well as donation boxes in case visitors want to give for the park’s upkeep.
Potrykus Construction is helping with the dog park effort by sponsoring a golf outing on Sept. 21, with the tee off at 10 a.m. at J and B Clover Greens in Marion. Registration is $240 for a team of four, which includes lunch. The proceeds will be donated in memory of Jamie Steliga.
To donate, mail a check to Village of Wittenberg Dog Park, P.O. Box 331, Wittenberg, WI 54499. More information can be found on the dog park’s Facebook page or by emailing wittenbergdogpark@gmail.com.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Categories
