Friends of Ellicott Inc.

Friends of Ellicott Inc. is the supporting non-profit organization that currently assists Erie County with maintaining & managing Ellicott Island Bark Park, with the support of future funding, we would also like to mitigate erosion issues, maintain the natural habitat of the island, protect the historic Works Progress Administration era structures that add character to the island, upkeep local artistry & add amenities tailored towards activity & the well-being of park patrons & their canine companions.

Friends of Ellicott was originally started about 15 years ago as an informal small volunteer group of Park users/dog walkers, who wanted to see the Ellicott Island Park better utilized and improved upon.  

In 2013, we formed a “not for profit”, allowing Friends of Ellicott, Inc to have a status to better interact with Erie County, NY the owner of Ellicott Island Park.

The main goal of the Friends of Ellicott, Inc was to work with Erie County Park officials to provide for an environmentally sensitive off-leash dog park.  

With the support of many, an agreement between the Friends of Ellicott and Erie County has been attained, effective Jan 1, 2014, the Ellicott Island Bark Park is an official off-leash dog park.

Current Board Members:

Ganesa Glose - President

Andrea Leonard - Vice President

Martin Glaeser- Treasurer

Lisa Jo Zakes - Secretary

Shannon Conroy - Fundraising Director 

Ellicott Island Bark Park is one of the hidden gems of Western New York! As part of the Erie County Parks System, it is currently one of the largest & most breathtaking dog parks in our area. Unlike other dog parks, Ellicott Island Bark Park offers almost 15 acres of shaded meandering paths through mowed lawns & naturalized areas with multiple points of water access for park patrons & their dogs to explore. While Friends of Ellicott Inc. formed in the efforts to push for the use of Ellicott Island as an off-leash natural recreation area, we have continued our dedication to Ellicott Island Bark Park by advocating for the preservation & improvement of the natural & historical aspects of the park while also implementing amenities that are geared towards a fun, safe & clean environment for our canine companions.

With help from our community of volunteers, we have improved the natural aspect of Ellicott Island Bark Park by:

• Hosting seasonal clean-up events
• Arranging planting events
• Designating naturalization areas for birds, butterflies & native plant
• Regenerating the turf with a yearly reseeding
• Sought out sponsor support to maintain waste bag stations
• Repurposed a small water fountain shelter for a Little Lending Library
• Installed a water fountain for dog usage
• Brought in art pieces by local artists

In addition to all of this, we work closely with the Erie County Parks & Recreation Department to:

• communicate on maintenance needs
• report areas of concerns 
• plan/coordinate park improvement projects
• plan/communicate to the public upcoming park closings for seasonal or maintenance purposes

With the help of major funding we envision so much more for Ellicott Island Bark Park! With this community wide funding effort we plan to move forward with some or all of this vision to improve this park by:

• Mitigating additonal erosion areas along the shoreline causing loss of land & possible hazard areas.
• Implementing management of our aging tree stock to identify hazardous limbs or dying trees that require removal. 
• Preserving the historical Works Progress Administration era structures, especially the boathouse & comfort station.
• Adding dog friendly amenities such as agility equipment & a dog wash station which could provide additional funding for future projects for years to come. 

This man made island on the Erie Canal has ridden waves of popularity & neglect over the years. With this new found resurgence, Friends of Ellicott is committed to maintaining & improving Ellicott Island so it may continue to provide a place for people to come with their pups for years to come.

Not familiar with Ellicott Island Bark Park? Check out this recent Buffalo Rising article we sourced a few pics from: Welcome to “Dog Island” – Buffalo Rising