Port Chester OKs Site for New Dog Park

Abendroth Park in Port Chester was approved Monday night as the site for a new dog park, where pet owners would be able to bring their dogs to run and play off-leash.

The Port Chester village Board of Trustees voted 6-0 in favor of a measure that selects the upper section of Abendroth Park as the site, but leaves the details of the dog park funding, construction and operation to be decided later. The vote came after months of lobbying and presentations by members of the Port Chester Dog Park Group, which called for the village to designate an area where dogs could legally be allowed to run off-leash.

The group, which initially organized through a Facebook group, has pledged to raise the funds for construction of the facility so it could be created without cost to Port Chester taxpayers. The site for the park was selected in conjunction with members of the Port Chester Park Commission, who supported approval of the park proposal.

The measure approved Monday night does not cover details of the project beyond stating that it is the village's intention to accept a future gift of donations for the construction of the facility on the upper section of Abendroth Park. Members of the Port Chester Dog Park Group said they needed a firm designation of a site from the village so it could begin fundraising and seek grants that would cover the cost of the park project.

The proposal put renewed focus on Abendroth Park, which is tucked in a quiet corner on the west side of Port Chester near the old United Hospital site. The park has undergone renovations, but is considered to be underutilized. The lower section of the park includes playground facilities for children and it's also used for local soccer games.

While the park had been renovated, it's parking lot remained closed because the village had not yet created a plan for operating the lot. The new attention to the park led to the parking lot being opened for public use.

The dog park proposal calls for building a large fenced-in area where dogs can play off-leash. The project design would divide that area in three separate sections, one for small dogs, one for "dogs in training" and another general area for friendly dogs.

Members of the Port Chester Dog Park Group contend the legal off-leash park would help problems at Abendroth Park and other Port Chester Parks - such as the large and popular Lyon Park - where some dog owners bring their pets. The group contends dog owners are willing to drive to Lyon Park so they and their pets can play legally.

The group also contends dog owners using the dog park would become involved in making sure they and fellow dog owners clean up after their pets.

The site for the dog park would remain Port Chester village property. Village Board of Trustees members approved a resolution designating Abendroth Park for the project after legal review by village staff and a review of similar parks in other Westchester County communities.

Still to be settled:

- The exact cost of the project.

- Funding for the project.

- Specific rules for operation of the park.