11/13/2024
Wendy Bolton was recognized as a “Friend of the City” by Mayor Russ Carpenter and the Richmond Hill City Council meeting last night (November 12).
Before presenting the award, Mayor Carpenter spoke for a few moments, telling the audience of how Wendy’s vision ten years ago, led to the opening of a large dog park inside Henderson Park where dogs can run and play off-leash.
“Twelve years ago on a Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Wendy Bolton, her husband Mark, young Nicholas, and Bailey, their Golden Retriever, were enjoying a short hike just off Main Street in the quaint mountain town of Highlands, NC. The trail led them to a local dog park within the city. The fenced-in area had a section for small dogs and large dogs and a pavilion with picnic tables and benches. There was a fire hydrant and an agility course there for the pups to enjoy. She returned every day during her short vacation stay for Bailey to romp and play.
Wendy took lots of pictures of the facility and mused that Richmond Hill should have its own Bark Park. When she returned home, she promptly went to work. She got help to create a 501c3 charity and put together a small team of spirited volunteers, and the Bryan Bark Park Association was founded with the mission of raising funds and finding a site to construct a dog park in Richmond Hill.
First was the not-so-easy task of selecting a site and securing the land. Then, raising enough money to clear it, bringing in 90 loads of fill dirt, installing fencing, digging a splash pond with a fountain, installing outdoor lighting, and building a doggie wash-down area to create a facility usable for big and small dogs alike. 10 years ago last week, the ribbon was cut.
The Bark Park is located inside Henderson Park at the end of a 900’ handicap accessible walkway behind the baseball fields. The Bark Park has its own telephone number (it rings on Wendy’s cellphone), and she was totally unprepared for the volume of calls she would receive from people looking for the “last mile” directions to the Park. At first, thinking callers were local, Wendy soon discovered most callers were from out of state and were spending the night in the I-95 Richmond Hill motels.
Dog parks have far-reaching benefits beyond the well-being and exercise of our best friends. Wendy has often cited the advantages that renters and apartment dwellers gain and the trickle-down effect of having fewer shelter pets because of the ability of those without yards to contemplate adopting. Before the Bark Park, some pet owners had resorted to using the fenced-in baseball fields for exercise. So, perhaps in a small way, the Bark Park is protecting the sanctity of the sports fields!
If you’ve been a visitor, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that dog owners are a social bunch — so the park encourages interaction with our neighbors.
Initially, it was a challenge to convince the County Commissioners to offer their space in Henderson Park. But with that overcome, the Bark Park now stands as a shining example of a successful public-private partnership.
We owe Wendy a debt of gratitude for her tireless efforts to raise the nearly $70,000 invested in the Bark Park infrastructure. She and her volunteers organized many Yappy Hour” events at Fish Tales to raise money and forge ahead.
“It is for all of these reasons,” said Mayor Carpenter, “We are proud to recognize Wendy, a 40-plus-year resident of Richmond Hill and Bryan County, and to welcome her officially as a Friend of the City.”
