The Montana Trails Recreation and Parks recently awarded Paws to Play a Citation of Merit for its continued support of Kalispell Parks and Recreation and Kalispell’s first dog park.

When it was formed in 2015, Paws to Play’s mission was to create a safe, natural environment where dogs can experience life off-leash in Kalispell.

During its first two years, they organized more than 15 different volunteer and fundraising opportunities and the hard work paid off in 2017 when the Kalispell City Council voted to create the first dog park.

Paws to Play has continued its fundraising efforts with five to seven events and volunteer clean-up initiatives every year. The group currently is working to raise money for an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant path, agility course, restrooms and other features.

To date, Paws to Play, through various grants and donations, has contributed more than $21,000 for fencing, benches, signs and other improvements.

For more information, see their website at pawstoplay.org or on Facebook.