Special Notice # 319 OK
From Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey

I didn't know that in some places people
are apparently still drilling wells for water
and I never heard of a parks department doing
this before.

This is the first dogpark I have ever heard of
using well water as their water source.

But that is not what this story is about and
I only noticed this in one of the photo captions

http://www.wantagedogpark.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dogpark-National-News/files/Hardware/
(I copied this photo and caption into the folder above)
"Katieanne Harrison from Branchville fills a bowl of
water for her yellow lab, Tess, from the new spigot
at the Wantage Dog Park. A new well which runs to
faucets in both the small and large dog areas were
funded by money raised at last year's garage sale."

Bill Zardus



http://www.njherald.com/story/news/dog-park2009-06-04T22-48-34
By CHRISTINA TATU
ctatu@ njherald.com

WANTAGE — Ken Enhoffer says it's gotten to the point
where he can't say the "p" word anymore, or else his
two dogs Lucy and Daisy won't leave their poor owner alone.

"If they hear me say "park," they'll watch my every move
to see if we are going to go to the dog park," Enhoffer said.
Lucy and Daisy are just two of the hundreds of pups that
regularly visit the Wantage Dog Park every week to frolic
on the park's three-acre field and tackle the doggie
obstacle course.

Thanks to donations and money raised from last year's
garage and bake sale, the park founders have recently
been able to add a wooden pavilion with benches and
running water to the park's list of features.

"I think we'll really appreciate it when it gets hot,"
Enhoffer said as he took shelter under the pavilion
from Wednesday's light drizzle.

"It's a great shelter. I think the dogs might like
it even more than the people do," said Julia Bridges
of Milford.

Bridges brings her beagle Roscoe to the park several
times a week. While their owners sat on benches
underneath the brand new "Lockburner Family Pavilion,"
the pack of dogs roamed through the park, obviously
unfazed by the light rain and chilly breeze.

"Every penny we raise goes toward maintaining the
park," said Wantage Dog Park founder Stu Baker.

The materials to build the pavilion cost about $6,000,
but Matt Lockburner of Lockburner Construction in
Wantage built it for free.

"It's nice to do something for your community and
it's nice to have your name up there too," he said,
joking about the Lockburner plaque that graces
the pavilion's main post.

The park's water system, which includes two spigots
near the park's entrance so thirsty dogs can get a
drink, cost $5,000 and was also paid for with donations.

Next week, Wantage Dog Park will hold its second
annual garage and bake sale. Baker said he hopes
to raise $9,000 this year to pave the park's sloped
driveway.

Last year, the park raised $2,500 at the garage sale.
Despite hard times, donations continue to be steady,
Baker said, but paving the driveway will be a major
expense. The 3-year-old park does not receive any
funding from the township and relies entirely on
donations for upkeep and renovations.

"We had over $500 in our donation boxes last month,"
Baker said.

Sometimes people wonder why the park needs donations,
but Baker said even small expenses add up. The list
includes "doggie bags," used to clean up any messes,
electricity, mowing the loan each month and emptying
the park Dumpster.

•••

The Wantage Dog Park garage sale is June 13, 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., at Tractor Supply, Route 23, Wantage.
For information call 973-875-4141

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