A day at the Greenland dog park

Who let the dogs out?

That would be 17-year-old Devon Theune, creator of Devon's Dog Park.

The Monument teen built the 16.5-acre dog park for her Girl Scout Gold Award and for pent-up dogs everywhere.

About 50 people and 25 dogs attended Saturday's leash-cutting, Frisbee-chasing, biscuit-chewing ceremony at Greenland Open

Space near Interstate 25 about four miles north of the El Paso County line.

It's so amazing to see all the dogs in here. I love it," Devon said.

"This is like an answer to my prayers," said Janet Sellers of Monument as her two poodles romped through the expansive field with some new friends.

Devon had been driving 50 miles round-trip just to give her dog Carlin some off-leash time at a dog park near Castle Rock. "It was a really, really long way," she said.

But Carlin, a 3-year-old Welsh Corgi-Australian shepherd mix, needed to burn energy, and Devon's Woodmoor neighborhood homeowners association doesn't allow fences.

"I can't take him off the leash and expect him to come back," she said.

When it came time for Devon, a Scout since kindergarten, to do the top project, she decided: "I could do a dog park."

The Lewis-Palmer High School senior didn't know it would turn into an 18-month ordeal.

Greenland Open Space in Douglas County was the closest place she could get to her home. It's a remote 3,000 area spread of natural grass, pines and trails framed by buttes and mountains. It has provisions for hikers, bikers and horses. Before Saturday, dogs had to be leashed.

Devon proposed a dog park to the Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources, which has three other off-leash parks.

"We were contemplating a place where people could turn their dogs loose in this part the county. We were excited about the opportunity to partner with her," county agency director Cheryl Matthews said.

Douglas County Park Ranger Tom Welle said it will benefit many creatures at Greenland.

"We've had a lot of issues with keeping dogs on leashes on trails," he said. "This gives folks a chance for their dogs to socialize without it negatively impacting wildlife."

Devon learned about conservation, erosion, politics, fence post-pounding and patience.

"A lot of times it felt like it was never going to end," the teen said. "Something always came up."

She hit the lecture circuit to raise funds and support from community groups.

"That stressed me the most speaking to large groups of people," Devon said. "It was terrifying, but I'm better at it now."

She was more comfortable decorating yards in the middle of the night.

"I made posters of dogs and laminated them and put them on signs. As a kind of a prank I put them in people's yards at night to find when they'd wake up in the morning. They could donate $40 and I'd pick them up, or donate $50 and I'd them in someone else's yard," she said.

"Most everybody was open to it. Some didn't react as well. Lots of dogs barked at me."

It paid off. Her "You've been dogged" lawn stints raised about $2,500.

The park has five stone benches, including one Devon's parents dedicated to her with the quote: "I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

The Gold Award is the highest Girl Scout honor. Requirements include serving 30 hours in a leadership role, 40 hours of career-oriented work and a project taking no less than 65 hours to complete.

"About 50-to-60 earn the award every year in the state," said Joan Harrold, spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of Colorado. "Most projects are not of this scope."
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Contact the writer: 636-0253 or andrea.brown@gazette.com