Dog days of summer could bring dog park

A strip of unused land between the Village Hall parking lot and Long Island Rail Road tracks could become the site of a new dog park in Valley Stream.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Valley Stream officials are exploring three possible locations for a dog park, and a favorite spot has emerged right near Village Hall.

Mayor Ed Fare said the village is committed to building a dog park. His favorite location is a grass strip between the Village Hall parking lot and the Long Island Rail Road tracks. He is particularly eyeing a section between two telephone poles, about 250 feet long, but said the park could be expanded even further toward Central Avenue.

‘There’s plenty of space,” Fare said. “It’s underutilized space.”

Fare said most of the space is open, which would be good for dogs to get exercise, but there are also some trees to provide shaded spots. There is also plenty of parking, he said, and well as bathrooms nearby — for the dog owners — at the John Smith Bandshell.

Envision Valley Stream, several months ago, began a petition for a dog park and has collected several hundred signatures. David Sabatino, president of the organization, said he is glad that village officials have heeded the public’s call. “I’m extremely excited and enthusiastic to see how much progress is being made,” he said.

Sabatino said he likes the location that village officials are considering. Initially, Sabatino said he was thinking about a grass area on the other side of the railroad tracks at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Central Avenue.

Fare said that village officials did consider that spot, but there are a few obstacles. The only parking there is a railroad commuter lot, which would limit parking for anyone wanting to use the dog park during the day. “We don’t them parking on Sunrise Highway,” he said “It’s too dangerous.”

There is also no water supply at the site, a necessity for a dog park. However, at the location near Village Hall, it would be easy to have running water there, Fare explained.

A third location being considered is by the unused firemen’s arch between Hawthorne Avenue and the railroad tracks in the east end of the village. Fare said this site was formerly used by the fire department for drill events. However, he said that the village only has surface rights to the parcel and that it is on land owned by three separate people. There are also about a dozen homes surrounding the site and he said the owners might not like the noise from barking dogs.

However, he said that location would have space to put in a parking lot, as well as a small playground for children.

The other issue village officials want to resolve is how the park would be managed. Trustee Vincent Grasso said that it is hoped that a non-profit organization, such as a “Friends Of” group, would be established to run the dog park. The group would be led by local dog enthusiasts to set up rules and regulations, and then enforce them. “These people have the expertise and the motivation to take the lead,” he said.

Grasso said he would like the park to be self-policing. The village would retain some authority, he said, but ultimately he would like the government to be as hands-off as possible.

The village would build the park and do basic maintenance such as cutting the grass. Because the land slopes up slightly from the parking lot to the railroad fence, Fare said the ground would have to be leveled off. Because separate areas are needed for small dogs and large dogs, he said it is possible that two parallel parks, one on a lower level and one higher up, could be built.

Fare said the village would also put a fence up around the park and establish the water supply. He said once the park’s rules are created, the village could also provide any signs.

Grasso said the cost to the village to build the park would be a few thousand dollars. Most, if not all of the work could be done by the village workforce. He also discussed the possibility of a public-private partnership, in which pet-related businesses could advertise there, making up the construction and maintenance costs.

Sabatino added that he would like to see lights at the park, so people could still use it in the evenings at times when the sun sets early, as well as benches and maybe a few picnic tables. “I think it could be great,” he said.

The next step, Fare said, is to get village officials together with some local residents, including Sabatino and dog park advocate Richard Infield. He said his hope is to break ground this summer, taking advantage of the added seasonal workers, and have the park open by the fall.