A very successful weekend fundraiser for Friends of the Hays Dog Park puts the group well on the way to funding for Phase 2 of the park.

Vice President, Laurie Mortinger said Tuesday the garage sale, plus the raffles and silent auction, netted $8,600.

A total of  $49,859 has now been raised for the dog park to be built at the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex.

About $35,000 will be used to build Phase 1.

The group expects to meet with Hays City Commissioners next month to request permission to start construction of the 1-acre area for small dogs, with a 6-foot tall perimeter fence, plus the road, parking lot, staging area, water lines, a message center, some people seating and signage.