Help Us Complete the Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park

A couple of years ago, PAWS of Nome launched a bold vision: to create the Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park—a safe place where dogs could exercise, play, and socialize without the dangers of traffic, litter/subsistence refuse, loose animals, or wildlife.

That vision was inspired by a growing community need. As muskox became an increasingly common presence in and around Nome, conflicts involving pets became more frequent and, often times, tragic. The loss of Curtis Worland while protecting his dog yard from muskox was a heartbreaking reminder that our community in general needed a safer solution for both pets and the people who love them.

When we first announced this project, our fundraising goal was $100,000. At the time, that estimate included acquiring property, preparing the site, fencing, and building the park from the ground up.

Today, we're excited to share that our vision is much closer to becoming a reality.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of community supporters, private property has been donated for the future home of the Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park. This extraordinary gift eliminated one of the largest expenses associated with the project and dramatically reduced the amount of funding needed to move forward.

Now, instead of raising funds to purchase land, we can focus on bringing the park itself to life.

Our current fundraising efforts will support the next phase of construction, including site improvements with a collection of attractive canine play sets that will create an engaging space for dogs and their families. Every improvement brings us one step closer to opening a safe, welcoming place where community members can enjoy time with their pets.

The Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park represents more than a dog park. It is a lasting investment in our community—a place that promotes responsible pet ownership, healthy recreation, and safer opportunities for people and their dogs to enjoy the outdoors together.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this project from the beginning. Because of your encouragement and this recent generous donation of property, what once felt like a distant dream is now within reach.

If you'd like to help us take the final steps toward opening the Curtis Worland Memorial Bark Park, we'd be honored to have your support. Every donation, no matter the size, brings this community project one step closer to becoming a reality.

Together, we're building something that will serve Nome's pets, families, and visitors for generations to come.