Update on Kingsman Field Dog Park

Gratuitous photo of my dog Ramona courtesy of Kathy Fox

Full Disclosure:  I’m a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of Hill Hounds, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is the official partner of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation on the Kingsman Field Dog Park project.

I’m pleased to report that after many delays, DPR is in the process of selecting a contractor to (finally!) begin construction on the Kingsman Field Dog Park.  With any luck, construction will begin in late March, and we can expect to have a beautiful, enclosed park for our pups to frolic and play in by the end of June.  (Of course, we can’t control the weather, and March is historically rather rainy, so let’s hope for construction to begin in April!)

You can see the current design concept here.  I can say with near certainty that the surface will be K-9 grass, like the park near Dupont Circle, at 17th Street, S Street and New Hampshire Ave. NW.  That surface has proven to be the most cost-effective and easy to maintain.  I’ll admit, I was skeptical of the puppy Astroturf at first, but have since become a convert after taking my girl Ramona to Dupont.  Hill Hounds is conducting a final fundraising drive to raise another $5,000 before March 1.  You can donate online, buy a brick, or sponsor a bench here.  In case you were wondering how the park is funded, DPR pays for the basics – original construction (minus “fancy” extras like benches), a water source, fencing etc. Hill Hounds is responsible for ongoing care, cleaning and maintenance, benches, shade treatments and any extras, like providing treat vending, poop bags etc.  I know there’s been a lot of chatter around the listservs recently about some unfortunate encounters between kids and dogs at Lincoln Park.  Supporting Hill Hounds and the Kingsman Field Park is a great way to minimize those sorts of encounters by helping to give Hill dogs a separate place to run and play.

Dogs will be required to have both DC dog licenses and DC park tags to use the park.  We expect to have sign up events in the park’s opening days to make sure that your pup is legal and all set for romping!