Park Progress Update, November 2021
To the dog-lovers of Marshfield:
The following is a long-overdue update on the current status of building a dog park in our town.
First, we’d like to acknowledge and apologize for the infrequent updates in the last year and a half. Since this current effort to establish a park kicked off in 2018, we’ve been thrilled by the support and generosity of our community, and the project would not be at this stage of development without it.
As a volunteer committee, it’s our responsibility to be transparent with regular progress reports and recognize we have not met that expectation. Our apologies again, and we are committing to providing quarterly status updates in 2022 and beyond.
Current Status of the Park
Approaching Town Meeting last year, we celebrated that the last major challenge was voter approval of the final warrant articles. After clearing that hurdle in June 2020, however, the long-reaching effects of the pandemic created new roadblocks in the form of significant delays and inflated costs.
As of this writing (November 2021), park design and budget have been completed by a professional landscape architect, paid for by the initial grant from the Stanton Foundation. Due to disrupted supply chains and the construction boom, the projected cost is nearly double what was anticipated, significantly exceeding the remaining foundation funds and any other government grants we may be able to secure.
That left two options:
Wait out these extraordinary conditions and delay the project until costs normalize and come under or closer to the total of the grants.
Slash costs and accelerate fundraising to cover the difference between the grants and projected total.
Of course, the first option isn’t really one at all, as there’s no guarantee that prices will come down.
The Friends of the Marshfield Dog Park must be able to demonstrate that the costs of construction can be covered in order to solicit bids from contractors. Having a competitive bid process drives down the costs of public works, so the current estimated budget to build the park can’t be shared until the project has gone to bid.
Looking Forward
So with Option 2 the only real way forward, we’ve rallied around doing whatever we can to get the park opened quickly.
Volunteers have been building relationships with the many local businesses around town to save on construction. We’ve been able to reduce or remove costs for preparing the site, filling material, and covering the area with wood chips. (If you’re able to help build the park or otherwise reduce construction costs, please email us at dogpark02050 [at] gmail [dot] com.)
We have also conducted a line by line review of the park design and budget. We have removed everything not fundamental to creating the park, such as extra trees, and choosing lower-cost options for materials like surfaces.
That leaves us with a new fundraising goal: $75,000
Until now, monies raised were earmarked for maintenance after the park was opened. Our events were focused on community awareness and providing a fun time for dogs and their owners rather than specific fundraising goals. With this new goal in mind, fundraising efforts will ramp up, and net donations will go entirely towards this goal to build the park.
Despite this disappointing setback, The Friends of the Marshfield Dog Park remain committed as ever to completing the project and are rallying around this new fundraising direction. As the ability to safely gather this wonderful community of dog lovers returns, we eagerly look forward to resuming a regular schedule of events.
The dog park cannot be built without help from the greater Marshfield community and new volunteers are always welcome at the next meeting: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 6 pm at the Ventress Memorial Library.
To deliberately misquote Alexander Pope’s famous poem: “To err is human — to forgive, canine.” The dedicated Friends of the Marshfield Dog Park are deeply disappointed to not have better news to share, but also know that’s not a reason to not stay in touch. We hope that sharing more about the wins and setbacks we’re facing as an all-volunteer organization help rally our community around this cause, and that by drawing strength from our pups’ best qualities - steadfastness, trust, and forgiveness - we’ll band together and give them the play place they deserve in our town.
How to Help
We’ll be ramping up our event schedule in 2022 to quickly meet our new fundraising goal. Keep up-to-date on events through the Fundraisers page, Facebook, or Instagram.
Our next in-person event will be the 3rd annual Picture & A Pint with Santa at Stellwagen Beer Company. Join us on Sunday, November 28 from 1 - 4 pm to get your pup’s photo taken with the jolly old fellow and emailed to you on the spot. Have your Christmas cards ordered before your Black Friday packages are even delivered!
Other ways to help
We are always looking for corporate partnerships and sponsors. Contact us or send us an email.
Are you able to help build the park? Reducing the cost of construction will be our fastest path to opening. Please email us at dogpark02050 [at] gmail [dot] com if you think you can help in any way.
Have any other ideas about fundraising or want to get involved? Let us know!