Harrison's First Dog Park to Open Monday

Harrison will have its first dog park effective Monday, July 12.

The new pet play and exercise area will be located in Veterans Park on Crystal Street. Pet owners can locate the pet-friendly area by the large flagpole located  near the dog park entrance, and use the park after they retrieve the necessary town license and pay the membership fee at the Town Clerk's Office.

The park was the project of R.J. Suhre, an 18-year-old Harrison resident.

Suhre was attempting to make the move from Boy Scout to Eagle Scout. One of the Eagle Scout requirements is a community project. Suhre contacted Joe Acocella, the town clerk, and together with Maureen Mackenzie, the town comptroller/treasurer, they brainstormed suitable community projects, finally settling on the concept of a dog park.

"Other communities had done it very successfully, and we felt it would be a great addition for the town," Acocella explained. "Residents had been asking for something like this for a long time but there was never a leader or funding for the project. RJ had a dog and was a pet lover, so it was a perfect project for both him and the town."

Raising the funding was, in itself, a major undertaking.

"To date the project has raised over $8,000 and efforts are still continuing," Acocella said.

Both Suhre and the town were lucky to have Allan Bonistall–a local resident–step forward as the major donor.

"Allan has always been very supportive of community projects, and he did the same in this instance," Acocella said.

Thanks to Bonistall's donations, Suhre was able to install the necessary fencing and signage along with many of the other items needed.

The dog park is divided into two sections; one for larger dogs, the other for smaller dogs. The safety of both pet owners and the pets themselves was of paramount importance to all involved.

"We wanted to ensure that all dogs entering the park would have the necessary shots to ensure their health, and the health of the other pets and owners they came into contact with," Acocella said.

For that reason, to use the park people must have their dogs licensed through the Town Clerk's office, which issues licenses only with the necessary immunization papers from a vet.

Further, given the current budgetary hardships and government cutbacks, the dog park's organizers sought to make the park fully self-sustaining.

"In addition to the initial fundraising, the park will be supported by an annual membership fee for each dog using the park. There will be no additional taxpayer support needed," Acocella said.

The annual membership fee will be $20,  payable at the Town Clerk's office on Halstead Avenue.

While the "soft" opening for the park is July  12, and residents and their pets will be able to use the area from that date, the dog park's organizers plan on a more lavish official opening celebration in several months.

"We wanted to wait until everyone who had helped with the project was back from summer vacation and could be part of the event," Acocella explained.

Acocella said that the response from Harrison residents has been very positive.

"We have had great community support since the idea's first conception and the community response and interest has been overwhelming and very exciting," he said.

In fact, the organizers are looking forward to expanding the project with fun pet-oriented events at the park in the future.

"I think given this wonderful new dog area, a special pet event like "It's Great to Live in Harrison for Dogs" would be very appropriate in the future," Acocella said with a laugh.