Nautical Paws

Where will your project take place?

The project takes place in downtown Rogers City, Michigan. We are a small rural community located on Lake Huron in Presque Isle County. About 3000 people make this area their home and enjoy miles of beaches, parks, conservation areas, bike paths, hiking trails, and birding sites. Nature lovers of all stripes enjoy this area from snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the winter to biking, kayaking, hiking, and boating in the summer.

Briefly Describe Your Project Idea:

Nautical Paws is about increasing dog-friendliness in Rogers City in order to bring together our diverse community of dog lovers that includes visitors as well as full time and summer residents.

Why does your community need this project?

We are a rural community that is increasingly attracting new residents and tourists. As our demographics have changed so have our downtown needs. It is important for our downtown to be a friendly and welcoming space. Benefits of dogs in the downtown
• Dog walkers, particularly children and women, feel safer when walking their dog.
• Increases habitual visitation of downtown. Main street can become a regular route for people walking their dogs, increasing the chance they stop for a coffee or buy some goods.
• Helps initiate community interaction. People stop to pet dogs which creates a friendlier environment.
• Deter pests such as seagulls & rodents
• Attract new residents and visitors.

What do you hope to achieve through this project?

Nautical Paws is a program initiated by Rogers City Main Street with the goal of increasing dog-friendliness in Rogers City. As of 2020, 45% of American households own at least one dog. It is a trend which is becoming increasingly important for attracting new visitors and residents to a community. People treat their pets like members of their family. Dog-friendliness is one of the first aspects of a community which dog owners check before moving or visiting. For Rogers City, a community where every day dog walkers are in our downtown and at our events we must make our downtown a more dog friendly area. We hope to do this my putting Rogers City Main Street branded dog bowls at down town businesses, providing Nautical Paws bandanas and a mural photo location for dog owners to take a picture and post to social media with their pets and to but benches where our community members and visitors to rest with their pooches. Our benches will have an area you can clip a leash to so that you can sit with your dog and enjoy a moment in front of one of our downtown businesses.