Five years ago, it was just a dream: creating a park just for canines in Cheshire.
Tuesday night that dream took another step to becoming a reality as the Town Council accepted an $18,000 donation to go toward the construction of fences at the new park, which will be located at the former Cheshire Landfill on Waterbury Road
The Cheshire Dog Park Committee has held numerous fundraising events and was most recently at the Cheshire Fall Festival last weekend accepting donations.
The park will have two separate areas for large and small dogs. The town's Parks and Recreation Department will maintain the property, which they are already doing.
"They came at a time when money was very difficult for the town — they didn't have extra money and we asked this group to go out and raise the funds needed to protect the site, protect the dogs and protect the people in town," said Councilman James Sima, "and this is the first time I can recall somebody going and getting all the money they need and then some.
"My hat's off to these people," he said. "They worked very hard and never gave up and it looks like its going to be a very good site."
"This group has been just a great fun group to work with," said Councilwoman Patty Flynn-Harris. "Their fundraisers been fun and they have gotten more and more people in town excited for this.
"I'm very happy for them and I can't wait to get that fence up and have a grand opening this fall," she said.
"We have been working five years with lots of different fundraisers," said Cheshire Dog Park Director Cindy Forlenzo. "People have been very excited about it — they came up to ask when open, which should be October or November.
"It's been a long five years but we're here," she said..
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