A Community Service Grant of $2000 by the Rotary Club of Waupaca has been given to Rosie Paws Dog Park in the Village of Iola.
The $2000 from Rotary will be used for shade trees, more benches, and toward accessing a water source for the dog park.
The grant application noted, “Rosie Paws Dog Park transforms a vacant, overgrown eyesore field into a social, recreational, and healthful opportunity for humans and canines. Waupaca County residents, and tourists and their dogs who need a break, will benefit. Iola has a significant number of tourists who travel year-round. Economically, it can also help our village as it is only a few short blocks from downtown – exercise your dog, then go fill your gas tank and buy treats for everyone! The nearest dog parks are in Waupaca and King, 25-30 miles away.
“A reflection of the values of the founders is to meet the requests of local dog owners for a local, safe place to exercise their dog while socializing with other owners – not to mention dog socialization and exercise. Not only is it an asset to many residents, also, it will be located across the street from Living Oaks, an assisted living community. Several residents have dogs, and this will give them a safer way to exercise their dogs than walking on village streets, especially in the winter. The park will help reduce their isolation, a known detriment to positive mental health. According to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (ADPT.com), “What all dog parks have in common is the reason for their existence. Dogs (and their owners) need a place where they can run free, sans leashes, and do ‘doggie’ things. Many of their owners have no yards and the dogs would otherwise live their entire outdoors on leash.”
There are several members of the Rotary Club of Waupaca that reside in the Iola-Scandinavia area. Other grants to the community have supported Jorgens Park Preserve and programs and projects in the Iola-Scandinavia Schools including dictionaries for third graders, funds for the Garden Group at the high school, and support for students in the Rotary Youth Exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership.
The mission of the Rotary Club of Waupaca is to serve others, promote integrity and advance understanding, goodwill, and peace in the greater Waupaca area and around the world, concentrating on Rotary International’s areas of focus: Support for education, Protect the environment, Grow local economies, Promote peace, Support mothers and children, Provide clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and Fight disease.
Rotary welcomes proposals from organizations in our community seeking funding and/or volunteer support for projects/programs that align with its mission. If your organization wishes to apply for a grant, go here for an application.