WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s Dog Park Special Committee has approved a proposal to name the city’s first urban off-leash park for a resident who recently died of cancer.
During a meeting Monday, the committee heard the proposal from Brian Stolzman to name the facility “Two Hearts for Deb Dog Park,” after his wife. Deb Stolzman was the first President of the New Life Adoption Center in Marathon.
Committee Chair Jamie Rice-Heckendorf says with the group about $35,000 short of the fundraising goal they chose to meet Brian halfway, valuing the naming rights at $17,500 which they agreed to.
“We currently have enough funds to open, but this would take us nearly to the end so we could open as a fully-functional park,” she said.
Rice-Heckendorf adds that Deb Stolzman was active in the community and a dog lover herself, so naming the park in her memory seems appropriate.
Due to the size and nature of the deal, the full city council does need to approve it. That’s expected to come later this month.
The group is still looking to bring in the final $17,500 to put finishing touches such as a shelter and benches in the park. Rice-Heckendorf says anything raised on top of their target will go to maintenance. They’re also looking at the possibility of a second park should the first one become popular.
“We will get this one up and running. If we decide a second one is in the cards, then we would go from there.”
The dog park is located near the downtown post office and is on track to open to the public this summer.
