Location of proposed dog park:

2987 W Woodrow Rd
Shelby, MI 49455

About this community:

Shelby Township, located in Oceana County, is situated on the beautiful west coast of Michigan. Founded in the mid-1800s, Shelby Township is now home to more than 4,000 residents. Set in a rural environment with rolling hills, Shelby Township is a diverse farming community with tree fruit and asparagus as the main crops.

Why this community deserves a Bark for Your Park™ grant:

There are no dog parks currently in Oceana County. Many residents do not have yards large enough for their dogs to get adequate exercise in. This has forced many residents to utilize the existing Shelby Township cemetery as a makeshift dog park. If Shelby Township wins a Bark for Your Park grant, a dog park will be built on a parcel that is owned by the Township so that residents currently using the cemetery will have an easy transition to the new dog park. In a recent survey of Shelby Township residents, a dog park was identified as the third highest priority for the community. Having a dog park in our community will support the health and well-being of both dogs and their owners.

How this community would use a Bark for Your Park™ grant:

With a Bark for Your Park grant, Shelby Township will create the first official dog park in the entire county. The park will be on a half-acre parcel of land and will be separated into two sections: one for small dogs and one for large dogs. The fully-fenced park will include access to water (i.e., water spouts to fill dog bowls), benches, and garbage bins with bags for owners to use to clean up after their pets. The dog park will provide many benefits to this community, including promoting an active lifestyle for both people and their dogs. The dog park will also promote the social-emotional health of people and their pets. Dogs will have opportunities to socialize with humans and other dogs, and their owners will have opportunities to connect with each other. In this way, the dog park will help build a greater sense of connection and community.

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