Case Study: Ruff & Tumble Dog Park

Sometimes, it only takes one dedicated person and their fluffy companion to make a change. This was certainly the case with the Ruff & Tumble Dog Park in Niles, Michigan.

Sometimes, it only takes one dedicated person and their fluffy companion to make a change. This was certainly the case with the Ruff & Tumble Dog Park in Niles, Michigan.

Katrina Andrews and her Australian Shepard, Roo, wanted a space for play and connection in Niles for dogs and humans alike. Katrina is the type of person who makes things happen. She sees a goal, gathers input, and executes. She held a community forum, then formed a citizen committee to discuss what a space should look like and discuss potential places for the dog park. Katrina then formed a nonprofit and went to the city council to pitch the idea.

The City of Niles was on board and set aside an underused piece of land at Riverfront Park South that could be transformed under the initiative of Katrina and her team if they could raise the funds for the park within a year. Proudly, through the Public Spaces Community Places crowdgranting program in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Katrina and her team raised over their goal, securing the grant match from the MEDC, and brought in 363 donors in the process in less than nine months.

“The crowdfunding campaign got the word out and allowed the community to visualize the space and its potential. The campaign made people feel a part of the space and brought more users to the dog park once it was opened.” - Katrina Andrews, Executive Director Ruff & Tumble Dog Park

The transformation of the lot was remarkable; the brush and trash littered the space that runs along the banks of the St. Joseph River and is now cleared and maintained by the Ruff & Tumble off-leash dog park. The park has two separate green and lush areas, shaded by three old-growth sycamore trees for small and large dogs. There is seating for canine companions, a water station, and a small agility course for those wanting a challenge.

The space has naturally generated connections that have had a large impact on the community beyond expectations. A visitor connection has allowed local groups to have adoption events, spay/neuter and other educational workshops, along with training events. People have come from St. Joseph and Indiana to use this space because of its beauty and peace. It is a wonderful place for people to meet and a great place for dogs to socialize. Katrina, a few other members from the nonprofit, and volunteers maintain the entire space, including mowing, groundskeeping, coordinating events, trash removal, and handling client complaints.

Project Details

• Project: Ruff & Tumble Dog Park
• Project Type: Gardens and Green Spaces, Parks and Playgrounds
• Project Location: Niles, MI
• Crowdfunding Raise: $36,687
• Crowdgranting Match: $35,000
• Patrons: 363
• Leveraged Funding: $9,500
• Total Project Estimate: $79,500

About Public Spaces Community Places

Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) is our crowdgranting partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This crowdgranting initiative provides matching grant funds to eligible projects that improve public space in the state of Michigan. Projects can receive a matching grant of up to $50,000 if they reach their crowdfunding goal.