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May 18, 2016 - For immediate release
Media contacts: 

Jessica VanGinhoven, Ottawa County Parks: (616) 405-3999

Josh Wiser, Chow Hound

This park has gone to the dogs… and the people who love them.

Ottawa County Parks is excited to announce that the Jenison-Hudsonville Community Foundation will be supporting the Grand Ravines Dog Park! Their donation will be doubled by the Chow Hound Pet Supplies community, who will be participating in a match campaign this spring and summer.

The Hudsonville-Jenison Community Foundation is donating $10,000 to the Grand Ravines Dog Park to assist with the many improvements coming to this park in the fall of 2016. “We are excited to be able to support this new park as a community foundation. Any time I drive by the park, it is always being used by members of this community and their dogs, said Kris Keegstra, Board President.

“We are thrilled that the Jenison-Hudsonville Community Foundation has chosen to support the dog park,” commented Parks spokeswoman, Jessica VanGinhoven. “The dog park is less than a year old, but has quickly become beloved by the community.”

The Jenison and Standale Chow Hound Pet Supplies will be teaming up, once again, to help raise funds for amenities at the park. In 2015, Chow Hound matched customer donations for the park and donated a total of $20,000 to the park funding five waste stations, two doggy (and human) water fountains, shade trees, and seating.

This spring the two stores will kick off a four month fundraising program:

• May: Month-long 50/50 raffle
• June: Raffle opportunities to win a dog gift baskets totaling $200 each retail at the Jenison and Standale locations – six baskets in total will be up for grabs!
• July: Customers have the opportunity to round up on their purchases.
• August: A good old-fashioned guessing game – if you are pretty good at guessing the contents of a jar, you might want to make sure to stop in and play!

“This park is a good way for our customers to have access to a safe place to let their dogs run and socialize with others. As a local company focused on pet health we think it’s a great investment in our community,” said Tyson Keane, co-owner of Chow Hound Pet Supplies. Any local business interested in supporting the park and giving their customers a chance to join in the fun can contact Chow Hound or Ottawa County Parks to get involved.

“100% of the proceeds collected will go toward Ottawa County Parks’ plan to make the Grand Ravines Dog Park the premier dog park in West Michigan,” said Josh Wiser, Retail Manager of Chow Hound Pet Supplies. “We share our customer’s enthusiasm to ensure the park is completed as intended. With the help of local businesses and frequent small contributions from surrounding communities we are confident we can match the Jenison-Hudsonville foundation’s generous donation.”

“Chow Hound’s ongoing support and promotion of this park has been incredible,” said VanGinhoven. “In addition to being the dog park’s biggest sponsor their staff also volunteers at the park – helping clean up and empty waste stations. They are truly invested in this park.”

Grand Ravines Dog Park has a number of major improvements planned for the fall, but many of these improvements require additional funding. Improvements include: expanding and paving the parking lot, the construction of a modern restroom, two additional paved paths to improve accessibility, shade structures for each play area, and more shade trees. All improvements total roughly $390,000. Funding hinges first on the public’s approval of the Ottawa County Parks 10 year millage renewal, which is on the ballot on August 2. And second, on outside funding. Any local businesses or individuals interested in supporting the park should contact Jessica VanGinhoven, Ottawa County Parks.

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The Hudsonville-Jenison Community Foundation, an affiliate fund of Grand Rapids Community Foundation, finances educational, charitable, and cultural projects within the Georgetown, Hudsonville, Jenison, and Jamestown communities. The foundation is funded through donations from local businesses and individuals. You can make a difference by donating to the foundation at: https://www.givegr.org/donate-hudsonville-jenisoncf

For more information on the Hudsonville-Jenison Community foundation and the projects they support, visit their webpage at http://www.hudsonville-jenisoncf.org or find them on Facebook.