WICKER PARK — Spend a lot of time with your dog at the neighborhood's namesake park? There could be some benefit to popping by a West Town bar for a pint or two of beer on Saturday.
The Wicker Park Dog Park Committee is hosting its biggest fundraiser of the year from 7-10:30 p.m. Saturday at Twisted Spoke, 501 N. Ogden Ave. in West Town.
The free event, which sells donated pints of beer and offers several silent auction items, raised $3,500 last year, according to Adam Housley, chairman of the dog park and its volunteer caretaker for the past nine years.
Located on the far southern end of the park at 1425 N. Damen Ave., the medium-size park is smaller than many Chicago Park District parks yet is often quite busy.
"People flock there. It's nice to see the park flourish and be so busy. Most people don't understand it is volunteer-run, that volunteers keep it clean and help to repair it," Housley, 35, said.
In addition to general day-to-day maintenance, the city requires three yearly cleanings by volunteers, who use brooms and materials bought with money from the fundraiser.
New asphalt, adding a bench and repairing a vandalized tool shed door are among the park's most pressing needs this year, Housley said.
Housley said there is also deteriorating wood decking on the north side of the park that needs to be removed for safety.
Now in its ninth year, the fundraiser, which is always held on a Saturday, was inspired by the Valentine's Day holiday, Housley said.
"People that are going out with their significant others will come to the party after dinner. For a lot of other people, they will be making the party their reason to come out. It's great motivation to get out and do something fun and for the dogs," Housley said.
Though the party will ultimately benefit local pooches, the gathering is just for people, so leave the dogs at home.
For more information about Saturday's fundraiser, email Housley or visit the event's Facebook page.
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