PONDERAY — A proposed dog park adjacent to Panhandle Animal Shelter is another step closer with word that Ponderay had received a $25,000 “Bark for Your Park” grant from PetSafe for the project.

“Panhandle Animal Shelter is excited and grateful to PetSafe,” PAS Execitove Director Mandy Evans said in an email to the Daily Bee. “We will continue to work in cooperation with Ponderay Rotary, the city of Ponderay and community members to bring our community an enclosed dog park.”

The park, which will be built on land adjacent to the shelter’s thrift store, will be 26,000 square feet and feature both small and large dog areas. Estimated to cost $100,000, the park will include fencing, lighting, a water fountain, benches, garbage cans, and poop bag stations. In addition, the cost includes signage, trees, ground cover and a parking lot, Evans said.

PAS is providing the land for the project and will manage the overall project. Once completed, the park will be incorporated into the city of Ponderay’s parks program.

“In order for this project to come to fruition and for our community to get a quality park, we need the help of our community members,” Evans said. “Together, we can make this park a reality by summer 2019.”

Play is an important aspect for a healthy lifestyle for dogs, Evans said, and an enclosed park makes that happen in a safe way for dogs and their owners.

“Plus, dog parks bring tourism and create healthy habits for humans,” she added.

Donations to support the dog park can be made to Panhandle Animal Shelter. In order for donations to go toward the dog park, please make a note “Dog Park” on the contribution. Tax deductible donations can be accepted via mail at Panhandle Animal Shelter, 870 Kootenai Cutoff Road, Ponderay, ID 83852; or online at pasidaho.org.

PetSafe, which offers innovative pet product solutions, announced the grants as part of its Bark for Your Park campaign. A total of to eight cities, including Ponderay, were selected as grant recipients for creation of new off-leash parks. Another five communities were selected to receive a $5,000 grant to improve existing dog parks. More than $225,000 was awarded for the off-leash dog parks.

PetSafe received over 120 applications for this year’s program. To be considered for a grant, communities had to provide documentation about the park and authorization from civic leaders offering their support of the proposed dog park, PetSafe officials said.

Since the program was launched in 2011, PetSafe has given over $1 million to build, maintain and enhance dog parks in close to 70 communities across the country. This is the first year that PetSafe has awarded grants to communities in Idaho, Wisconsin and Nevada.

“The Bark for Your Park program is all about finding enthusiastic, pet-loving communities that support green spaces, with civic leaders who want to improve their communities and encourage responsible pet ownership,” said Willie Wallace, CEO of Radio Systems Corporation, parent company of the PetSafe brand. “Dog parks provide a venue and opportunity for dogs to get vital exercise and socialization, which are two major factors in reducing behavior issues.”

For the right community, Wallace said a dog park can help increase pet adoptions and help to reduce the number of dogs surrendered to shelters and rescues due to behavior.

“That’s the legacy that the PetSafe brand wants to leave in communities across the U.S.,” Wallace said.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.