Dog park proponents to hold second meeting Saturday
Group now accepting donations for fencing
The city’s dog park committee is holding a second public interest meeting tomorrow — Saturday, July 7 — at 10 a.m., in Library Square Park [pictured above].
The plan for a dog park was approved June 6 as a one-year pilot program. Members of the park’s committee — including condominium owner and pet trust attorney Rachel Hirschfeld; local business owner Debbie DeLisa; Shade Tree Commission member Tom Pivinski; city council representative Sue Henderson and city manager Terence Reidy — are now trying to fundraise and get matters in order to install the park by fall.
Attendees will first be given a tour of the proposed dog park site, committee chair Rachel Hirschfeld said. Next, they will discuss their options for fundraising to provide a fence and gate for the park, which could cost $24,000 to $50,000.
They will also discuss possible recreational and educational activities that could be held in the park. The park has been designated a 501(c)3 charitable educational organization, Hirschfeld said, because committee members hope to one day host classes on various aspects of dog ownership there.
The group is now accepting donations to the dog park fund, and all donations are tax-deductible due to the 501(c)3 designation.
Although the city is not funding the project, the execution of the park’s financing will be handled by city officials, Hirschfeld said.
“It’s all being scrutinized and receipts are being reviewed carefully before anything is paid,” she said. “The goal is to keep this impeccably clean and focused on the dog park.”
The committee is also in the process of building a website. Currently, they have a Facebook page at facebook.com/asburydogpark.
The committee’s first public interest meeting was held on June 24 inside Pure restaurant at 11 a.m. The committee answered attendees’ questions and talked about the fencing, the layout of the park and funding.
The dog park has faced some opposition, including from the Asbury Park Historical society and some residents.
The rain date for Saturday’s meeting is Sunday, July 8, at 10 a.m.
[CORRECTION: A previous edition of this story erroneously named Don Stine as a member of the dog park committee. Stine is not a member.]
