- 9/11/2010 - Dogs rule the pool at the Pooch Pool Party!
- 9/7/2010 - Go behind the scenes during Fort Nisqually Candlelight Tours
- 8/26/2010 - Park Board votes on name change for a more than 20-acre park to honor long-time advocate and Friends of Blueberry Park founder
- 8/23/2010 - Michael Powers takes the stage at final Summer Sounds & Cinema event
- 8/16/2010 - Free Summer Sounds and Cinema event at McKinley Playfield August 21
- 8/2/2010 - Free Summer Sounds and Cinema event at Stewart Heights Park August 14
- 7/28/2010 - A great summertime run followed by great summertime fun!
- 7/28/2010 - Playground Adventure Bus keeps kids on the move!
- 7/27/2010 - Free movies, concerts in Tacoma parks this August
- 7/27/2010 - Special Olympic hopefuls tee off in regional golf tournament at Meadow Park Golf Course
View ArchiveTacoma resident selected as finalist for $500,000 contest that could benefit Point Defiance Park’s Off-leash Area
Mike Friehl is one of just 10 contestants selected in the nationwide competition
Jul 15, 2010
Tacoma resident Mike Friehl has been selected by a panel of judges as one of only 10 finalists vying for a half-million dollars in prize money that will benefit the winner’s favorite dog park.
Purina’s Beneful WagWorld Dream Dog Park Contest will award a half-million dollar prize to a public or non-profit dog park in September. The winning entry will be determined by a panel of judges using a variety of criteria. Ten percent of their decision will be based on the number of votes entrants receive as part of an online competition running now through August 11.
Mike Friehl got the idea to enter when he attended a public workshop two months ago hosted by Metro Parks. Staff met with users of the Off-leash Area at Point Defiance Park, to discuss opportunities for the public to help care for and enhance the space. When staff shared information about the national competition, Friehl thought about the potential opportunity to garner a significant amount of funding for the park and decided to enter.
“They gave us the contest information and I decided this was something I could do to try to help make a place that we really enjoy even better”, Friehl said.
Mike and his two dogs, Buddy (his video co-star) and Duchess, visit the park’s Off-leash Area an average of 5 times per week.
Contestants were asked to talk about their vision for their ideal dream dog park. While he knows that a half-million dollars wouldn’t cover the cost for all of his ideas, and some might not be viable for the space, he knows that a half-million dollars would go a long way toward enhancing the area.
“It’s already a great space,” Friehl commented. “The setting makes it a really unique experience. The dogs and I both really love it.”
Link to Mike’s video entry, where supporters can cast their vote: http://dreamdogpark.wagworld.com/ViewIndividualEntry.aspx?contestantid=1305
Supporters can log on and cast a vote each day throughout the contest which ends August 11 at 10pm PST.
Related News:
Join us for “Pitch in for Pups at the Point”, Saturday as we spruce up the grounds and install some fencing in the Off-leash Area. Tail-wagging, four-legged crew members are welcome, but please consider whether your pet will remain within eyesight while you work.
Pitch in for Pups at the Point
July 24, 9am-12pm
Point Defiance Off Leash Area
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Established in 1907 by Tacoma voters, Metro Parks Tacoma was the first independent park district created in Washington State
Contacts: Nancy Johnson, communications manager, 253-305-1092, nancyj@tacomaparks.com