Rosslyn residents: there is a brand new place for Fido to expend all of that boundless energy.
An interim dog park has recently opened on the western side of Gateway Park, a three-acre urban park with a fountain, amphitheater, and views of DC. The dog park is around 10,900 square feet in size, with a large-dog area of 8,000 square feet and a small-dog area that’s 2,900 square feet. Other amenities include grass surfacing, a water source for pets, waste bags, a message board, repurposed and ADA-accessible benches, a 5-foot-tall fence with visual screening, and updated lighting.
The creation of the space, which cost around $40,000, was due to the support of community organization R-DOGS (Rosslyn Dog Owners Group), and the Rosslyn Business Improvement District. R-Dogs originally began as a group of concerned citizens who believe in the need for a relevant space that’s within walking distance of the Rosslyn area, to serve the densely populated canine community. On their website, R-Dogs notes that there are more than 400 dogs within four to five blocks of Gateway West; by 2022, more than 600 are expected to be in the immediate area. They also note that in 2015, the National Parks and Recreation Association described dog parks as “the fastest-growing segment of city parks.”
In Rosslyn, there are eight existing dog parks, as well as two dog runs planned for the future at Met Park and Short Bridge Park. In addition to the new temporary facility at Gateway Park, there is another interim concept planned for Virginia Highlands Park.
The Gateway Interim Dog Park was approved in early 2021 and will be available for the community to use until a master plan is created for the park and funding is secured. It’s located at 1300 Lee Highway in Arlington, and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, check out its website.
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