Morrison dog park in the running for $25,000 grant, needs your vote

MORRISON – Morrison is one of 30 finalists in the PetSafe Bark for Your Park dog park contest, in which five communities will win a $25,000 grant.

Online voting runs through Aug. 31 at barkforyourpark.com. Participants, who must be 18 or older, can vote once a day.

The Morrison Bark Park will be built at the former Legion baseball diamond on Genesee Street just north of Northside Elementary School.

If they win the grant, organizers plan to use the money for Phase 1, which involves building a $50,000 fence around the site this fall. So far, about $20,000 has been raised.

Phase 2 will be a walking path with engraved bricks that can be bought in memory of pets, and Phase 3 will include the parking lot, water station, benches, a fountain, and aesthetics.

The On The Move with Parks and Recreation committee, formed in 2019 to provide and enhance recreational opportunities in the community, is spearheading the effort.

The committee also is partnering with Morrison Lions Club Foundation to collect donations, which are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to the foundation with Morrison Bark Park in the memo field and sent to or dropped off at TBK Bank, attn: dog park, PO Box 30, 211 W. Main St., Morrison, IL 61270.

Online donations also can be made on the foundation’s Facebook page.

Call committee member Kathy Schmidt at 815-564-8772 for more information.