GREEN RIVER — For the last few years, the Green River High School (GRHS) National Honor Society (NHS) has been working toward building a dog park in Green River, and after years of hard work they have broken ground and have begun building.
The NHS and the Greenbelt Task Force provided an update to the Green River City Council Tuesday night, in which they said they have broken ground and have set up a timeline for the remainder of the project.
“It is so exciting that we are finally building after four years of work,” NHS Advisor Victoria Hemphill told SweetwaterNOW.
Luci Adams spoke during the Council meeting in which she explained that the past four years NHS has been fundraising, planning, meeting, and anticipating the construction of this dog park. More recently, NHS has been speaking with different contractors in the area to find someone to do the work.
“The past six months we’ve been trying to find a contractor to do the ground work but we were repeatedly told ‘no’ by everyone that we asked,” Adams said. “However, Searle Brothers in Rock Springs, we asked them, and they immediately said yes. Two weeks after they started doing the ground work for that.”
“Searle Brothers made a very generous contribution and donated all the ground work,” Hemphill told SweetwaterNOW.
Adams also explained that NHS recently partnered with the Greenbelt Task Force on the project as their 501c3 status helps which helps with purchasing abilities.
“Going directly through the school district would be a very lengthy process,” she said.
“The task force has been really late in participating… but we’re very happy to be part of this,” John Freeman, Greenbelt Task Force Chairman said.
Hemphill told SweetwaterNOW that along with Searle Brothers and the Greenbelt Task Force, there are several other people in the community who have helped with the project. Brad Raney, Green River Parks and Recreation Director, has played a key role throughout the process.
“There is no way this would be possible without him,” Hemphill said.
Mike Brown with Inberg Miller has been helping NHS for the last three years.
“He is still donating a ton of time and energy,” Hemphill said.
Additionally. Hemphill said that Kyle Vasa has been very “kind and generous.”
Hemphill told told SweetwaterNOW the fence will be installed in late June, and they are planting seeds for the grass.
“So it will not be open until fall,” she said.
Mayor Pete Rust thanked Adams, Hemphill, and the entire NHS for their hard work over the past four years.
“We really want to thank you for all your efforts because it’s been an amazing situation and carrying it forth year after year, that’s not something that happens all the time. So good for you guys,” Mayor Rust said.
The dog park will be located between Green River Animal Control and the horse corrals.
Other Business
The Council approved to increase the Wastewater Fund budget by $500,000 to cover emergency repairs to the northside lift station force main line. The city enacted the Emergency Statute Provision in order to do the repairs needed. The budget increase allows the payment to the vendor for the repairs.
The Council also awarded the 2022 Cape Seal Project to Asphalt Preservation for $577,629. This project includes installation of a cape seal (scrub seal and slurry seal) of up to approximately 106,000 square yards and 1,200 square yards of patching on as many as 18 roadways in the city.
