For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Friends of Scentrail Bark Community Park Inc. has teamed up with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters baseball team to help raise money to create a dog park in Ripple Creek Park in Port Edwards.

The Rafters are offering a special ticket package that includes a reserved seat to the baseball game on July 10 against the Green Bay Booyah, a Rafters hat, and a hot dog and fountain soda. A portion of each ticket package will be donated to the Friends organization to help make the dog park a reality.

Tickets must be purchased by June 26. Print off a copy of the ticket form from the nonprofit’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FSBCP.WIRapids or email scentrailbarkpark@gmail.com to have a copy sent to you.

In addition, one lucky person who purchases the special ticket package will be selected to throw out the first pitch on behalf of the nonprofit.

Friends of Scentrail Bark Community Park Inc. is a group of community volunteers and dog lovers that formed in September 2019, when the city of Wisconsin Rapids closed its Tails ‘n Trails dog park. Its mission is to help create and sustain a dog park in the Wisconsin Rapids area.

In December 2020, the organization secured a two-acre location for a dog park in Ripple Creek Park in Port Edwards through a partnership with the village. The group is now responsible for raising more than $30,000 for fencing, benches and pet waste stations.

The park will include a small dog area and a large dog area, with plans for a future shelter and agility area. The group aims to break ground on the project and install fencing in September 2021, with an anticipated grand opening in October 2021. That timeline is contingent on fundraising efforts.

Donations can be made to Friends of Scentrail Bark Community Park Inc., P.O. Box 272, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 or at www.paypal.com/paypalme/FriendsofSBCP.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/FSBCP.WIRapids or http://scentrailbarkcommunitypark.org, or email scentrailbarkpark@gmail.com.