Proposed location (Photo: QueensPost)
March 26, 2019 By Meghan Sackman
A new space for pups to play is expected to open in Astoria next month.
A new dog run is being built on Triborough Playground C, which is on Hoyt Avenue South between 23rd Street and 24th Street. The run, which is expected to open in April, is shaped like a dog bone and includes a brightly-colored design.
The playground’s basketball court is also being revamped and will open at the same time, according to the Parks Department.
The dog run will feature separate areas for large and small dogs, with each area featuring spray fire hydrants, rocky mounds for the dogs to climb, drinking fountains with dog bowls, and seating for owners. The run, which is about half an acre in size, will also include a hose and drainage in order for it to be kept clean.
The revamped basketball court, separated from the dog run by a fence, will feature a new asphalt pavement, a new color seal, new backboards, seating and a drinking fountain.
The sidewalk along Hoyt Avenue South–adjacent to the park– has been widened and street trees have been planted.
The push for the new dog run took off in 2014, when a group of dog owners released a petition on Change.org to call attention to the community’s need for a space for dogs. The petition ultimately gained more than 700 signatures and the backing of Council Member Costa Constantinides.
The following year, the community voted in a participatory budgeting poll to direct $500,000 in capital funding to a new dog run. Borough President Melinda Katz agreed to contribute an additional $500,000 later that year to fully fund the project.
The project’s design phase began in 2016 and its opening is anticipated to be on schedule.
Rendering (Source: Parks Dept.)
