Splish Splash

Giant slip n’ slide returns to Dickson

Organizer Angie Pratt says increased padding under the slide, more water and more involvement from local vendors and nonprofits will make this year’s slide even better than last summer’s.
Organizer Angie Pratt says increased padding under the slide, more water and more involvement from local vendors and nonprofits will make this year’s slide even better than last summer’s.

Have you ever seen a 1,000-foot slip and slide? That is more than three football fields of family-friendly, slippery fun, and Dickson Street in Fayetteville is providing the stage. Well, the road, to be more exact. The nonprofit Soldier ON Service Dogs Inc. will host the second Dickson Street Slide event on Sunday. Prepare for things to get a little wet!

"We had over 25,000 people last year and that was just super," says Angie Pratt, executive director of Soldier ON Service Dogs. "The thing from last year that stood out most in my mind is everybody had a happy face. Without a shadow of a doubt, we've been the beneficiary of Northwest Arkansas' giving spirit."

FYI

Soldier ON Service Dogs, Inc. will host a ribbon cutting and naming ceremony for the new TLC Veterans’ Center at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The center is located at 2378 W. Moore Lane in Fayetteville. The building is being named to honor founder Angie Pratt’s son-in-law, Staff Sgt. Theron Lindenmuth, who served as the inspirational basis for the founding of the Soldier ON Service Dogs organization.

FAQ

Dickson Street Slide

WHEN — 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

WHERE — Dickson Street in Fayetteville

COST — $20-$60; $150 for VIP lounge

INFO — dicksonstreetslide.…, soldieronservicedog… for VIP tickets

BONUS — Soldier ON is seeking three puppy-raisers. For information on volunteering in this or any capacity, visit their website.

Last year's event was organized through the company Slide the City but this year, a local event company is providing the slide -- which means even more proceeds for Soldier ON. Now in its second year of operation, the nonprofit trains service dogs and provides them free of charge to local veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

"It's because of what we do. People already inherently know dogs can help a veteran," Pratt says of the supportive community. She says nearly all of the organization's dogs are donated now, which enables them to allocate money from events like Dickson Street Slide all to the same place: "Training, training, training, training. Each of our dogs is getting probably in excess of two hours a day of training with a professional person."

As dog-friendly as the organization is however, Pratt asks that people do not bring their dogs to the event. The slide is perfectly safe -- with only three minor injuries happening last year when people chose to stand up on the slide -- but a "booboo tent" will be on site should any accidents happen.

"UA nursing students will be manning the tent," Pratt says. "And we've taken over the Walton Arts Center parking lot where there will be vendors and other nonprofits. We're trying to encourage that community spirit."

-- Jocelyn Murphy

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 08/26/2016

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