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Franklin County board moves forward with Lakewatch dog park partnership funded by volunteers
Summary
At a May 21 work session the Franklin County Board of Supervisors agreed to proceed with a Memorandum of Understanding with Recreational Development of Franklin County (RDFC) to build a Lakewatch dog park using private donations; the county will retain ownership and accept phased funding responsibilities.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors on May 21 reached consensus to move forward with a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow Recreational Development of Franklin County (RDFC) to fund and lead construction of a Lakewatch dog park while the county retains ownership of the site.
The MOU sets out roles and phasing: Franklin County will own the property, oversee construction, provide insurance coverage, manage project funds and operate and maintain the park; RDFC will handle fundraising, volunteer coordination, community outreach and will assist the county in obtaining competitive bids. Under the agreement the project will be built in phases and, once the county accepts full funding for a phase, it will be obligated to complete that phase in a timely fashion.
"We will not ask the County for any funds for Phase 2 of the project," said Mr. Tim Byrd of RDFC, describing the group's fundraising plan. Staff said Phase 1 will cover required park infrastructure at a projected cost of $60,000; Phase 2 would add items such as sidewalks, a canopy structure and additional landscaping. Board members noted RDFC has already contributed substantial funds; the record notes approximately $220,000 raised by RDFC and its donors.
Parks and Recreation Director Paul Chapman told the board the department will not accept additional projects with RDFC until the Lakewatch dog park is completed, and County Administrator Steven Sandy confirmed the property will remain county-owned. Chair Lorie Smith thanked the volunteer group for its work; Supervisor Mike Carter commended RDFC's investment in the county.
The MOU also addresses donor recognition and limits on future joint projects: the county and RDFC may collaborate on signage, plaques and sponsorships, and they agreed not to undertake additional joint projects until the dog park is fully completed and obligations under the MOU are satisfied. Planning and Community Development approved plans for the project on May 20, 2026.
Next steps: staff will finalize the MOU and oversee phased construction once fundraising milestones are met. The board recorded a 6–1 consensus to move forward with the project.
Votes at a glance: At the start of the session the board approved a modification to the work session agenda by motion (Resolution #19-05-2026). The motion was made by Supervisor Tim Tatum, seconded by Dan Quinn and passed unanimously (7–0).
