TURFMUTT
The TurfMutt Foundation Celebrates 15 Years
What’s next for the Foundation? It’s all about growing green space.
The TurfMutt Foundation is celebrating its 15 th anniversary in 2024. That’s a decade and a half of championing the backyard, advocating for managed green space, and teaching kids and their families how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation. Since its inception in 2009, the program has reached more than 70 million children, educators, and families. There has always been a spokesdog leading the charge. After all, who knows and appreciates the green space of our backyards and parks more than a pup? First, it was Lucky, who was rescued by Foundation President and CEO Kris Kiser. After spending a decade in the TurfMutt cape, Lucky crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2019. That same year, Kiser adopted Mulligan at the Mutt Madness adoption event, sponsored by the TurfMutt Foundation. She worked hard to earn stripes and become Mulligan the TurfMutt, continuing the landscape-loving legacy of Lucky. “Over the years, the TurfMutt program has challenged the movement to rip out lawns, advocated for green space even during drought, and reminded people about the benefits of getting outside in their own backyards and parks during the pandemic,” said Kiser. “The program is incredibly agile and relevant, and it has the ability to evolve with the changing landscape around managed landscapes.”
The TurfMutt Foundation, the education arm of Equip Exposition, funded the creation of Mulligan’s Bark Park so people and pets in downtown Louisville would have some green space. Local artist, Kacy Jackson, created the mural, which you can see on Fourth Street.
Mulligan lends her smile to the mural at Mulligan’s Bark Park, a downtown Louisville dog park the Foundation funded and opened in 2023 during the week of Equip.
Mulligan was adopted at Equip Expo’s Mutt Madness in 2019, and has been the TurfMutt Foundation’s spokesdog ever since.
90 / equip / Issue 5
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