A Story of Purpose.
The Dakota Rogers Project brings people together to create joy from tragedy.
Who Was Dakota?
Dakota's story is the reason this project exists, and it belongs to the people who knew him. It will be told here in their words, not summarised by an organisation.
What the rest of this page describes is what that story set in motion: a community that decided the answer to loss was to build something people could walk into.
Why This Project Exists
We aren't simply building a park.
We're creating a place where mental wellness comes to life through nature, creativity, community, and the healing bond between people and dogs.
Transforming tragedy into connection, healing, and joy — through community, nature, and the companionship of dogs — is the whole of what this organisation is for.
Our Mission
The Dakota Rogers Project brings people together to create joy from tragedy. Through the development of a pet-friendly mental wellness park and community-centered experiences, we are creating spaces where connection, kindness, creativity, and healing flourish. Inspired by Dakota's story, we are building a place where everyone belongs and where every feature is intentionally designed to support mental wellness.
Our Vision
To create one of the nation's most innovative community-built mental wellness parks, where people, dogs, nature, and creativity come together to improve lives and strengthen communities.
Our Values
Hope
We talk about what is coming, not only about what happened.
Belonging
Everyone is welcome here, and everyone has something to add.
Joy
A place built out of grief is allowed to be a happy place. Ours is.
Peace
Quiet is a feature, not an absence. We design for it deliberately.
Inspiration
People should leave wanting to build something of their own.
Who Is Building This
Meet the Team
The project is led by volunteers who took on the work of turning an idea into a place. Names and roles are published here.
Advisory Council
Mental health, parks, landscape, and community professionals who advise the project on what to build and how to build it well.
Transparency
Every dollar given and every hour donated has a place in the story. Annual reports and financial summaries are published here as each year closes.