Above, volunteers working to build the Dog Park a number of years in the past, Haley Goulet at middle entrance.
The Franklin Dog Park, situated throughout the Dacey Field complicated, is a fixture on the town, well-known and well-loved by canine house owners – and their dogs. But it may not have come into being however for lots of volunteers and the spark and power offered by Haley Goulet, a Girl Scout again in 2011, with an excellent concept.
“Jeff Nutting, our town administrator at the time, was so supportive; it would not have happened without him, I am quite sure of that,” mentioned Goulet.
Above, Haley Goulet and former Town Manager Jeff Nutting at Park ribbon slicing.
“I formed the dog park committee back in 2015 before I went off to college. I have stayed in contact with the committee since then,” Goulet defined.
And in December, the committee elected her president, placing her again answerable for a challenge that was her brainchild initially, although she famous that the committee features a full slate of officers.
“I am happy to rejoin now and step up as the president of the committee,” she provides. Goulet goes to be taking up as canine park president as Gennarino D’Onofrio, who helmed the committee from its inception, steps away to take time for himself and his household, she defined. “He has had such an amazing impact on the park and I am so incredibly sad to see him go,” mentioned Goulet.
Gennarino had been the contact level between the organization and city staff and arranged all of the fundraisers since 2015. “He is well known and well-loved at the park for bringing his homemade dog treats with him everywhere he goes,” she mentioned, including that the final batch was blueberry oatmeal! “We regularly attend the Harvest Festival and the Strawberry Stroll in town as well as hosting a yearly Howl-ween costume contest at the dog park, thanks to Gennarino,” mentioned Goulet. These occasions are the Park’s main fundraisers now.
Oddly, Goulet hasn’t change into a Dog Park consumer!
“My personal dog story is rather funny,” she defined. “I have actually never brought a dog to the dog park. Way back in 2011 when we first put the fence up my family had a dog that was quite reactive and uncomfortable around other dogs. I would bring her and train her outside the fence but we never went in. Our current family dog is quite social but I do not live in our family home anymore so the opportunity has not arisen! Though the park was still a labor of love. But for the people’s community building. While a dog park provides a great location for dogs to learn how to socialize with a wide variety of other canines it also provides people a place to connect with their neighbors.”
Haley Goulet as we speak, when not engaged on the Dog Park, is employed at a non revenue farm.
