Dog parkers deliver $9,000 to City of Fort Worth

December 13, 2005. Fulfilling its commitment to the City of Fort Worth for building Fort Woof Dog Park, the Fort Worth Dog Park Association presnted a check for $9,000 for the benefit of Fort Woof.

The Fort Worth City Council voted to build Fort Woof Dog Park and challenged its supporters to raise money to defray its costs. With today's donation, the Fort Worth Dog Park Association has donated $25,000 to the City of Fort Worth to defray the costs of Fort Woof.

Fort Woof opened on April 4, 2004. The City built a beautiful dog park for Fort Worth families and their dogs. Christian Science Monitor reported that Fort Woof is one of the most used parks in Fort Worth. In the May 2005 issue of Dog Fancy Magazine, Fort Woof was ranked Second Best Dog Park in the United States based on a review of over 700 dog parks. Since Fort Woof opened, Fort Worth Police have reported that crime has been reduced in Gateway Park.

The Fort Worth Dog Park Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that is dedicated to keeping Fort Woof safe, fun and free. The Fort Worth Dog Park Association has twice sponsored Barktoberfest at Fort Woof, a festival to raise money for Fort Woof and raise awareness about Fort Woof. This years event was co-sponsored by 1310AM/The Ticket. Well over three thousand people attended Barktoberfest this past October. In addition to its fundraising activities, the Fort Worth Dog Park Association also maintains a website and distributes information at Fort Woof to educate folks about Fort Woof and its safe use.

The City employees responsible for the construction and upkeep of Fort Woof, led by Mark Woolsey and Dale Taylor, are to be commended for keeping Fort Woof in tip top shape.

Everyone and their dog is at Fort Woof. It is the only park where complete strangers regularly start up a conversation and have a good time together. Other cities in Tarrant County are following Fort Worth's lead and building dog parks. Thanks to the City of Fort Worth, families and their dogs have a safe, fun, beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors.

The Fort Worth Dog Park Association is comprised of volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds. For a list of volunteers and sponsors who contributed to Fort Woof during 2005, check out our Support the Park page.