A grassroots nonprofit dedicated to off-leash dog parks in Clark County is calling on the community to help improve one of its lesser-used locations during an upcoming volunteer event.
DOGPAW (Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington), a 501(c)(3) organization formally established in the early 2000s, operates four off-leash dog parks in Clark County, named after fallen law-enforcement K-9s who served the region. According to Mark Shanholtzer, vice president of park operations and administration, the organization came to fruition when local residents identified a growing need for safe spaces where dogs could run freely.
“It’s not just for the dogs,” Shanholtzer said. “It’s for communities, right? And the people that love them. It builds a great sense of community. It gives dogs places to run, especially if you live in developments and apartments and things like that.”
The nonprofit maintains its parks entirely through donations and volunteer labor, with no city or county funding. Shanholtzer said that while the parks are widely used, only a small percentage of visitors contribute financially or through volunteer work.
“About 10-percent of the people that use the parks contribute,” he said. “But the people that do contribute really spend their time.”
Efforts are now focused on improving Kane Memorial Dog Park ahead of peak usage in the warmer months. A community improvement day will take place on Saturday, April 11, at 9 a.m., where volunteers will assist with spreading gravel, replacing aging benches and improving visibility into the park for safety.
Shanholtzer added that Kane Memorial is the least frequented of the four dog park sites, due in part to limited accessibility, as it is located along a trail rather than immediately adjacent to a parking area.
“I’ll bring a trailer and we’ll have some swag and sign-up sheets and releases, of course,” Shanholzter said. “And if (volunteers) have their own tools, that’s great. If not, we’re going to be bringing shovels, rakes, pruners, wheelbarrows and shovels. It’s not hard work. We’re not asking anybody to put in a lot of effort. Just any little bit that they’re willing to do is helpful for us.”
Beyond maintenance, Shanholtzer emphasized the broader benefits of dog parks for both pets and their owners.
“They don’t just need to run, they need to be mentally stimulated,” he said, adding that interacting with other fidos, smelling plants and furry friends all help mental stimulation for a dog. “It’s also important for their owners, like myself.”
Over a decade ago, Shanholtzer utilized DOGPAW’s Ike Memorial Dog Park in Vancouver to focus on physical rehabilitation.
“I had a heart attack about 15 years ago, and they want you to do cardiac rehab, you know, on the treadmill up at OHSU,” he said. “I didn’t have the mindset to do that. So I went to our big dog park, Ike Memorial Dog Park, and I walked the park. I could only go bench-to-bench the first month, but that is how I did my rehabilitation. I kind of fell in love with the parks.”
Kane Memorial Dog Park is situated within the Hockinson Meadows Community Park, located at 10910 NE 172nd Ave. near Hockinson.
To learn more about DOGPAW, to volunteer, donate or explore park sites, visit dogpawoffleashparks.org.
