17,000 barked for their park

Fundraising efforts for Lexi’s Puppy Patch – a proposed dog park to be located in McKinley Park in memory of Alexis Rounds – nearly doubled this morning after PetSafe announced Creston was one of five communities selected for a $25,000 Bark for Your Park Grant.

“I’m just, oh my God. I’m just so excited,” said Lexi’s mother Angie Wegscheid.

PetSafe’s Bark for Your Park grant contest launched online in May, with an open voting period from Aug. 3 to 31. Creston’s dog park proposal garnered 17,831 votes of more than 62,000. The number of votes was not made available until this morning’s announcement, but the link to vote was shared widely through social media by family and friends of Lexi.

“As much people that I saw voting, I was pretty convinced we were going to get it,” said Wegscheid. “I know it’s been shared all over the United States, maybe even further, so people can vote. I was very, very hopeful, but pessimistically hopeful. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

The contest, now in its 10th year, has awarded more than $1.5 million to support more than 70 off-leash dog parks in the United States. The other four recipients of the $25,000 prize include projects in Binghamton, New York; Carbondale, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Newport, New Hampshire.

After learning their project had won, Lexi’s father Jeremy Rounds shared the news to a Facebook group of supporters.

“I’m just grateful for our community and all those people who went out and voted for it,” said Rounds.

Rounds said, prior to this grant, their efforts have raised nearly $35,000. However, with rising construction costs, the $25,000 will help. They are still working on bids for the project, but hope to break ground in Spring 2022.

“We’re trying to talk to a few different people about fencing because that seems to be the biggest individual expense,” he said.

Fundraising for the 300 by 100-foot dog park started in January. The park was a dream of Lexi’s, which her parents hoped to bring to fruition in her memory after her fatal car accident Dec. 8.

“I don’t own a dog, I’m more of a cat person, but on the other hand, my daughter. It’s for her,” Rounds said. “It’s a project people have been wanting to do for years and I’m just glad it’s finally going to happen.

Wegsheid and Rounds invite supporters to celebrate with cake and high-fives 7 p.m. tonight at Mario’s Sports Bar and Grill.