SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The largest off-leash dog park in the entire country is in Santa Fe. Now volunteers are hoping that a big new fundraising effort can help make big improvements there.
“Here at the dog park, we can let the dogs run free,” said John Reed, dog park user.
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138 acres of trails, hills, and much more is what off-leash dogs can experience at the Frank S Ortiz Dog Park in Santa Fe. On Tuesday, volunteers helped improve the city-owned dog park by building a wooden fence to eventually divide the park from parking spaces. “It’s really for the safety of the dogs to separate the dog park from the parking lot so they don’t run out into traffic,” said Diana Coderre, executive director of The Dog Park Project.
The non-profit group The Dog Park Project, which helps maintain the site, was able to complete big upgrades on Tuesday with a $5,000 donation from distilling company Tito’s along with more than 40 volunteers who showed up. “Some friends of mine turned me onto the park. The moment I saw this park, it was a no-brainer that we had to be a part of it,” said Amy Lukken, Joyologist with Tito’s Vodka.
The work is just the start of a master plan that The Dog Park Project says will take two years and more than $200,000. They’re hoping to upgrade the parking lot, add benches, security cameras, and lights as well as an additional dog course and more.
“I think everybody loves this park so much they want improvements, but they also want to preserve the natural beauty here,” said Jane Larson, founder of The Dog Park Project in Santa Fe.
Tito’s has committed to matching up to $35,000 in donations toward the project to help pay for the master plan which has parkgoers excited for the future. “I think you will find it one of the best in the state,” said Reed.
