Brewery proposes to name downtown dog park

Flying Dog Brewery offers $5,000 to city in return for naming rights

Flying Dog Brewery of Frederick was scheduled to appear before the city's Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday night to discuss a $5,000 donation to name the new amenity "Flying Dog Park." The former Tiny Tot Park, at the corner of North Bentz Street and Carroll Parkway, near Baker Park, is in the process of being transformed into the city's first off-leash park for dogs.

The meeting was scheduled to take place after The Gazette's Wednesday press time.

Chris Rippe, marketing manager for the brewery, said part of the endeavor is personal, as he recently moved to Frederick from Denver, where dog parks were in great abundance.

"I was looking for a dog park in Frederick when I found out about the new one and working at Flying Dog, it seemed to make sense," he said. "This seems to have synergy and is a fun way for us to support the community."

In 2006, Flying Dog purchased the Frederick Brewing Company and 18 months later, moved 100 percent of brewing operations from Colorado to the Wedgewood Boulevard facility. In addition to its own beers, Flying Dog still manufactures the Wild Goose Brewery line of beers which were one of the original partners in the Frederick Brewing Company.

The brewery is proposing a $5,000 contribution toward construction and maintenance of the park in return for four signs announcing "Flying Dog Park," with the company's logo. Half of the money will be paid up front, while the other half will be generated through fundraising events at the brewery and due in February 2009, according to the brewery's proposal.

The brewery does several charity events, Rippe said, including one next month after which a portion of proceeds will be donated to Frederick's Heartly House.

Rippe said as a city taxpayer, he supports the city taking initiative to reallocate money to other parks and recreation projects when sponsorship opportunities arise.

"The city can use [$5,000] for another project and we are not looking to make money," he said.

As for the link to alcoholic beverages, Rippe said the "brewery" part of the company's name would be excluded from signs at the family-friendly location.

"I look at it like Busch Gardens, where thousands of families go each year," he said. "Parents can choose to tell their kids what Flying Dog is, or not."

Roelkey Myers, the city's director of parks and recreation, said the naming proposal is "new to me" and that the last time a city park was named for someone that he can recall was the Grove family's $250,000 donation to construct Harry Grove Stadium and the donation of land for the adjacent Loats Park by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in honor of former landowner John Loats.

"With these two examples, there is a relationship," he said. "… It's the commission's decision to make a recommendation to the mayor and Board of Aldermen. I could go either way with it."

Myers said the city hopes to open the park by late September as public works' crews are now at work to transform the former Tiny Tot Park. Still to be done is the installation of fencing, plantings and other park amenities, such as water fountains, Myers said could result in a price tag of about $35,000 for the city.

As for the brewery's proposed $5,000 donation, Myers said "sure … it would help."

Mayor W. Jeff Holtzinger (R) said he awaits the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission. "We can take the burden off the taxpayer … but I'll rely on the commission to determine if it is appropriate," he said.

For more on Flying Dog Brewery: www.flyingdogales.com.