Shell Factory to dedicate expanded dog park
Now, when your dog comes to play, the kids will have a place to play as well.
The Shell Factory & Nature Park has expanded its Doggy Heaven dog park, adjacent to U.S. 41. On Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m., the park will celebrate the completion and dedicate the park to one of North Fort Myers biggest doggie advocates.
The new park, which is already the home of Suncoast Dock Dogs and the Southwest Florida Wiener Dog Club, will be dedicated as the Richard Dunmire Dog Park by Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman.
Dunmire, the father of Shell Factory owner Pam Cronin, has been an educator for more than 55 years, 41of them in Lee County, and ran for a seat on the Lee County School Board this past fall.
Dunmire has also worked on the four museums inside the Shell Factory and helped provide the school buses for field trips to the Nature Park, via the Nature Park Foundation.
“He does things around the Shell Factory that don’t get noticed. He does a lot of maintenance here, so when we looked at expanding out there, his name came up,” said Shell Factory CFO and marketing director Rick Tupper.
“I’m not sure I really deserve it. I think it should be named the Cronin Park, but they keep insisting,” Dunmire said. “It’s quite an honor.”
Dunmire has also been a huge advocate for dogs, having started and grown Doggie Church at the park, where people bring their pets of all species, and has been connected to the dock dogs and weiner dog club.
Oddly, Dunmire hadn’t owned a dog for more than 60 years before his daughter suggested he get one three years ago.
“I really enjoyed the weiner races. Pam said she wanted to buy one for my birthday. I said it had to be miniature, female and the runt of the litter,” Dunmire said. “Lollypop is now 3 years old.”
In addition to the dedication ceremony, there will be 50 cent hot dogs and drinks, the Suncoast Dock Dog Jumping Club will be conducting demonstrations, and discounts up to 20 percent will be offered on doggy-related merchandise and other items at the dog store, toy store or Holiday House.
This expansion will include an enlarged dog park and a new playground for the kids. The park will remain free of charge in keeping with the dog-friendly nature of the business.