East Elmhurst dogs and their owners will have new and improved places to play.
Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras and Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubrey announced on Wednesday that the Parks Department will invest a total of $3.2 million for renovations at Overlook Park, including the creation of the neighborhood’s first dog run.
The dog run, which received $1.5 million from the Parks Department’s capital funds, will be located at the corner of Ditmars Boulevard and 94th Street. East Elmhurst residents currently have to travel three or more miles to access dog-friendly spaces like Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Sherry Park in Woodside and the Jackson Heights Canine Recreation Wonderland.
Overlook Park, located near the proposed dog park on 97th Street and Ditmars Boulevard, will receive $1.7 million worth of upgrades including upgraded play equipment, benches, fences and improvements to the sidewalk. The Parks Department will also prune and clear trees and plant new greenery.
“So many residents of East Elmhurst made a home here and have remained for decades despite the noise and air pollution,” Councilwoman Ferreras-Copeland said. “They really deserve well-kept public spaces near their homes that allow them to enjoy leisurely time with their families and pets outdoors.”
Though the dog run was a popular project during the 2015 participatory budget meetings, it was knocked off the ballot when projects such as smartboards for a local school, LED lights on Roosevelt Avenue, and police cameras on 102nd Street in Corona were introduced, according to Ferreras-Copeland.
The official date for construction of the two projects has not been set.
