Cornali Field, owned by Western New Mexico University, has been a popular recreational area for community members, and their favorite canine companions for several years. Now, area residents are coming together to raise funds for the park.
Julie Cason is a Silver City resident who has been visiting the park with her young, 12-pound dog. She is hoping that soon a new fence is erected, helping separate the larger from the smaller dogs who visit Cornali Field. Cason is spearheading a fundraising effort, with a goal to collect $1500 for the project.
“This project is important to the community in terms of Silver’s dog park being on the same level of most dog parks in other cities,” said Cason, owner of Silver City RV Park. “Being in the hospitality business I often get questions and feedback from visitors to our city. Folks don’t feel comfortable taking their small dogs to the dog park with the current situation, and many campers we see have small dogs.”
Located one block from the main campus, between Virginia Street and West Street, Cornali Field is the only fenced-in park used by dog owners as a dog park in Silver City. The site is available all day, seven days a week. It is watered and maintained by WNMU maintenance officials.
“There is tremendous value in improving this dog park. I recently tried to start up a “small dog” playgroup once a week at the dog park only to discover the folks didn’t want to take their small dogs to the dog park,” said Cason. “Big dogs and little dogs just don’t play the same way. Little dogs wrestle together and interact in a different way than large dogs.”
Cason is hoping that the new four-foot fence will help owners with dogs of all sizes feel comfortable with visiting the park. The newly fenced-in area for smaller dogs will account for one-third of Cornali Field with the entrance facing Virginia Street.
Tax-deductible donations can be dropped-off at the WNMU Foundation located in Hunter Hall or mailed to WNMU Foundation, P.O. Box 1158, Silver City, NM 88062.