In late February, Victor Carcamo, operations director at Rosslyn BID, who also has a background in landscape design, was speaking with a colleague about usable space in the area when they came up with an idea: Why not look for public landscape space already throughout Rosslyn and find a way to make it more pet-friendly?
“With the influx of residents, we wanted a place for those with pets,” says Carcamo. “We are always looking to enhance the area.”
Three weeks later a plan was in place, and in mid-April the Rosslyn BID held a grand opening party for the area’s first pet garden and hosted Barkley Square, a pet boutique and grooming shop.
The 800-square-foot space located at North Kent and North 19th streets may not be big, but the changes that were made make it a space that residents can enjoy with their pets. “It used to be known as Kent Street Island, and we would get feedback from residents to enhance the space,” says Carcamo.
Out went the thorny rose bushes, and in came the mulch, grass and Adirondack chairs that are nestled within a boxwood border.
It is a space for all pets, says Carcamo, pointing out that it is not a dog park. “The space is inviting to all pets,” he says. All pets must be leashed when in the space, and waste bags and receptacles are available.
The pet garden is under management of the Rosslyn BID, as is all the public landscaped space, and it will be overseen by a collection of 10 ambassadors the BID works with through contracting, a company called Block by Block.
Though there are no set plans in place, Carcamo says the BID is always on the lookout for more enhancements for residents, and those could come in the form of pop-up events at the space. He recommends signing up for the BID’s weekly newsletter to stay informed of things to come.
