Thanks to a dedicated community group, a dog park is coming to Winkler this summer.

City Council offered to provide the land earlier this year, with the hitch that a group of local citizens take the project on. A committee of volunteers quickly came together spurred on by the need for the facility.

"There's so many dogs in Winkler and there's no place for them to run off-leash and to mingle... it's very important for dogs to socialize," Organizer Martha Olfert says.

The dog park is also a prime place for dog owners to meet and socialize.

"It's just one of those things that draws you together, if you have a dog you can go up to another dog owner and have a conversation," she says.

After scouting a few locations within the community the group and city council agreed on a parcel North of PTH 14.

Since fundraising began this spring The group has raised close to $10,000 of their $15,000 goal.

Winkler Dog Park Committee Members Martha Olfert and Trudy Wall at the site of the future dog park next to the Water Treatment Plant in Winkler North of PTH 14

Olfert explains the funds will help install a fence, benches and plant trees on a parcel of land adjacent to the Winkler Water Treatment Plant.

A recent fundraising BBQ last weekend raised nearly $2,000.

"It's amazing," she says, thanking the community and volunteers who believe in the project.

The group hopes to see the dog park opened this summer.

Dog Fashion Show winner Delta Holte with her pooch Penny Mae

Right to Left: In third place it was Helen Dyck with her dog bear who was dressed up like a groom. Second place went to Karen Ewankevich and her dog Casper who was dressed up like a horse and even had a stuffed bear rider! And in first place it was Delta Holte with Penny Mae who was dressed up like a flower and butterfly garden