Who Are We?

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

In 2013, we formed a “not for profit”, allowing the 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.

The By-Laws of the Friends of Ellicott organization can be downloaded at the following link: By-Laws.

A link to our Guidestar Non-Profit page can be found here.

A link to our statement on discrimination can be found here.

The best way to help us is with a yearly membership, donation, or helping out at our events!

Membership & Support

Our Current Board Members

Ganesa Glose

President

Hello! First off as the President of Friends of Ellicott Inc. welcome to our page, and more importantly, to our Park and Community!

Some background on myself, I was raised in Western New York and have been visiting Ellicott Island for years, starting with my first dog Kayla. When Kayla and I moved to Tonawanda we discovered Ellicott Island during one of our many ventures, and I instantly fell in love with the beauty of the island! While Kayla never saw the island as an official park, I was able to introduce my aging Weimaraner Rocca and my German Shorthaired puppy Mila to our official Park in 2013 during its inception. It quickly became a place where they could have the freedom to connect with nature and I couldn’t keep them away. We enjoyed it so much that our visits to the Bark Park increased to almost daily and it gave Rocca some of her happiest days in her final years with us. We recently added Nena, a surprisingly calm, yet silly Blue Weimaraner to the mix and she has extended our tradition of almost daily visits to the Park.

Through the people I met at the Bark Park, I slowly began to learn more about Friends of Ellicott Inc. how much they did for the Bark Park and the support they needed. I started out helping with fundraising events and cleanups, which eventually lead to me chairing the fundraising committee and diving in and researching the history of Ellicott Island. Since then i’ve been driven non-stop to help Friends of Ellicott Inc., and Ellicott Island, to maintain its use as a Bark Park and make our absolute gem of an island as amazing as possible for canine and humans alike.

Through all of this, I have had the love & support of my husband, Ron Glose and our three children who have enjoyed helping out at various events. Though i’m not sure if they just want to help, or if they just do it for the pop & snow cones! Also,I’ve gotten to know so many people that regularly attend Ellicott Island Bark Park that have become family to me. They keep me going and believing that we can do more than we ever thought possible for this lovely piece of nature that we all love and care so much for; even if it’s gone to the dogs!

Vice-President

Andrew Witt

Hello everyone! Well to start with some background I was raised in Western New York and went to college at the University of Buffalo. There I was Captain of the Men's Rowing team. This was my first introduction to Ellicott Island as I rowed past it every morning at 5am and would day-dream how nice it would be to take my own dog there sometime in the distant future.

Once I graduated I stayed in Western New York and this is when I rescued Coco and started coming to the Ellicott Island Park. Ever since then and for the last 8 years I have visited the park constantly be it spring, summer, fall or winter. Nothing has made Coco as happy as her visits to the Island, and for me the chance to “unplug" myself from technology and enjoy nature along with everyone else at the park, has been a godsend. I really think what we have here is something special, and I hope I can help grow our community for a long time to come.

With my work experience in the Technology/Software field I will be running our social media and online presence along with our Vice-Presidential duties. The park has given Coco and I so much happiness over the years, and I hope to give whatever I can back.

Samantha Waldbillig

Treasurer

Hi! I grew up in Plattsburgh, NY in the beautiful Adirondacks and made my way to Buffalo, NY to pursue graduate school. Eventually, I graduated from University at Buffalo with my Masters in Social Work and solidified my roots in Kenmore, NY where we purchased our first home.

My first introduction to Ellicott Dog Park was initiated by a friend and her pups. Later, when I adopted my precious, Keeler, the park became a second home to us.
Professionally, my background is working as a social worker with those with developmental disabilities where I have held multiple positions. Currently, I work at People Inc. as a behavior specialist. As the treasurer of World Refugee Day in Western New York, Inc. for six years, I have fueled my passion of helping non-for-profits. It is through the development of this non-for-profit, that I have gained the skills to continue as the treasurer for Friends of Ellicott, Inc.

I’m thrilled to be able to use this platform as a way to become a part of the Ellicott Park family and impact a place that has meant so much to my small family and Keeler.

Lisa Gorman

Secretary

Picture and bio coming soon!