New dog park planned for Cass City

What’s happening: Cass City is going to the dogs. The Cass City Bark Park Planning Committee has formed to bring a dog park to the Tuscola County community in Michigan’s Thumb, and the project has garnered support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to do just that.

What it is: An unused plot in the village’s municipal park system – just north of the softball diamonds – will soon become the site of the Cass City Bark Park. Plans call for a 100 ft. by 150 ft. large dog area and a 40 ft. by 90 ft. small dog area, each with a double-gated entry for safe transfer in and out of the park. The fenced area will extend into the woods for shade. Also planned are benches, waste baskets, agility equipment, water station, and more.

When to expect it: Construction of the Cass City Bark Park is planned for this spring with hopes to open come summer.

Plans for Cass City Bark Park. (Photo: Patronicity)

How they’re doing it: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has accepted the Cass City Bark Park into its Public Spaces Community Places program, a statewide placemaking initiative that offers matching grants complementing project organizers’ crowdfunding campaigns. Should organizers successfully raise $14,000 by Friday, May 19, the MEDC will contribute an additional $14,000 to the project.

The Cass City Bark Park crowdfunding campaign is hosted on the Michigan-based Patronicity platform, which is available online.

Why it’s important: “The MEDC Patronicity program is critical to the funding of the Cass City Bark Park. In the village of Cass City, even though we are rural, we have little space to exercise with our best friends, our dogs,” says Cass City Village Manager Debbie Powell. “The MEDC’s PSCP program will allow construction of the Bark Park in Spring 2023 and this summer we will have a doggie playground for our furry friends.”

Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.