A small group of dedicated dog-owners have single-handedly kept the New Paltz Dog Park “running” for over 10 years.
Located at the Field of Dreams in New Paltz, the park was established in 2014 on land leased from Ulster County by the town government and built by the New Paltz Highway Department (NPHD).
Since then, the park has been managed and paid for by a small group of volunteers who have done whatever it takes to keep the park going. “It was a really grassroots group of people,” said Clifford Rockmuller, one of the original volunteers. “People stepped up and did whatever needed to be done.” The group of volunteers would transport their own tractor to the park each time it needed to be mowed, along with collecting all of the park’s waste and disposing of it themselves. Now, the NPHD manages the mowing and allows the park to use its dumpster.
With the help of the NPHD, volunteers can focus their efforts on keeping the park clean, safe, well-maintained and stocked with supplies such as dog waste bags. The volunteers pay for all the supplies either themselves or with donations from the community. “We’re there for upkeep and to keep the attitude positive,” Rockmuller said.
Rockmuller sees the park as an invaluable resource to the community. The park is the only legally-designated off-leash space for dogs in New Paltz – a town in which many live in apartments or small houses. “It’s really nice that they can be off leash,” he said. “My dog runs around a little bit and he’s happy. He’s happy as a clam and that makes me happy. It’s a quality-of-life thing.”
“It’s really a love fest … all the dogs know each other, and they play together. I know more dog names than I know people’s names.”
Rockmuller also believes that the park serves people who are handicapped, allowing them to let their dog play off-leash in an area that is safe for the dog to do so.
Despite these community benefits, the park still scrapes by on the donations and volunteer efforts of community members. Rockmuller petitioned the town government for assistance with the park, but according to him, the activists were barking up the wrong tree. “I spent a lot of time putting up a presentation and they liked the idea, but they didn’t do anything about it,” he said. “I would love for them to be more involved, but they’re not involved. So, we’ll just keep it going ourselves.”
According to Rockmuller, the park needs funds to pay for “bags and other necessities,” along with dirt, hay and materials to repair and maintain the park. Most donations go towards purchasing bags so that the park can remain clean.
Rockmuller encourages everyone that can help the park to do so, even if they can only help a little bit. “The more hands we have, the lighter the load. It is a community dog park after all, and the more people that help out, the stronger the community becomes.”
To donate or volunteer for the dog park, you can join the New Paltz Dog Park Facebook group or contact Rockmuller directly at his email address: cnrock@aol.com.