A Letter from a Dreamer

Dear JoEllen‚

I see that the annual “Dare to Dream” breakfast hosted by the Women’s Resource Center is fast approaching and I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without letting you know about a dream that you all made come true.

In 2007 I applied for a Dare to Dream grant with plans to file for 501(c)3 nonprofit status for an organization that would allow us to raise money to build an off-leash dog park in Front Royal. Those of you who know me know that my kids are my dogs and I felt that they needed a park just as some of your human kids have in which to go play.

The WRC was gracious enough to give me a $1000 grant and I did use it to start the Warren County Dog Park Association. The grant funded the filings as well the start-up fees and publicity to start the WCDPA. Fast forward 5 years‚ and we just completed raising funds to build our dog park!

As with any large project I ran into several setbacks the largest of which was the cost of the park increasing from about $20‚000 to almost $60‚000!

The bottom line is that I wish to invite you all to the groundbreaking of my dream! The Off-leash Dog Park ground breaking will be on Saturday‚ March 31st at 9 a.m. at the park location at Eastham Park off Luray Avenue. (Ed. note: the groundbreaking did take place!)

I just wanted to let you know that because of your support our community and people with big dreams‚ our community is richer for it. Because of the Women’s Resource Center’s believing in my dream‚ we will have a dog park in Front Royal.

I will forever be grateful to the Women’s Resource Center and the Dare to Dream grant program for supporting my dream. And Jed and Lincoln say thank you too!!!

Many thanks‚ Kelly Walker