City of Sparks is building a Pet Memorial in Sparks Marina Park for pet owners to honor those lost friendships by attaching pet collars to a grid. The memorial includes an original poem chosen by the public. Community input will be open until Aug. 26 at www.cityofsparks.us/petpoem.
Thirty-three poems were submitted to the city for consideration to be engraved into a large steel structure as part of the Pet Memorial. A panel of local literary experts — poets, authors and instructors — narrowed down the field to three final poems. Now it is in the public’s hands to choose the final. The memorial will be unveiled in Fall 2019.
“I got the idea when walking the Steamboat Ditch Trail with my dog,” said City of Sparks Special Events Supervisor Francine Burge. “I saw someone had attached a dog collar to a fence along the trail. Whoever did that probably walked their dog on that trail every week.”
Everyone can connect with losing a pet. Whether it was your pet or someone’s close to you, the pain still resonates. “I thought people should have a more official place to honor relationships that are so important to people,” said Burge.
Visit www.cityofsparks.us/petpoem for online input. All three poems are available to be read on the website. One vote is allowed per person. You can also decide which poem is best in-person at the Parks and Recreation Office: 98 Richards Way, Sparks, NV 89431
Sponsorships are available starting at $1,000 for the memorial. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department for more information.
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