We have great news to share! The DC Council’s FY2022 budget, approved by the Council on August 3, includes full funding for the build out of the dog park. This budget allocation, combined with the fact that the District is close to finalizing a lease with WMATA, is a huge milestone in making the park an official District dog park.
The lease and budget allocation are a big win for the community. They will not only ensure that members of the community have a safe space for our dogs, but will also allow us to maintain a valued meeting place where Columbia Heights and surrounding community residents interact with their neighbors, make new friends and feel a sense of community. Furthermore, it will preserve green space in our neighborhood, which is already greatly lacking.
The budget allocation is for $1 million, which is based on the Department of Parks and Recreation’s estimate of how much it will cost to improve the park. The funds will be in place at the start of the new fiscal year, which begins this October.
We owe great thanks to all of you who have supported and advocated for the park the last several years. We also owe great thanks to Chairman Mendelson and other members of the Council for their efforts. In particular, we should thank Councilmember Nadeau, who has continued to support the park throughout the years, even when we faced unexpected twists and turns with WMATA.
The process to make the park official isn’t over yet. We are currently putting together the formal dog park application, which we must submit to the Department of Parks and Recreation. If you haven’t signed the application yet, your next opportunity to do so is at Hook Hall on August 17 , 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm.