SURFACING & DESIGN
It seems that some dog owners who live near the Shaw Dog Park on 11th & R Street NW, enjoy its convenience and size more than anything else, but those who have taken their dogs to both the brand new 5,600 sq ft Dupont area dog park and the 15,000 sq ft Shaw Field park, prefer the new (much more expensive) K9Grass surface to pee gravel. The Shaw Field dog park is so much larger that it can accommodate almost three times as many dogs+owners as the Dupont area park.

K9Grass: is the only artificial grass, designed specifically for dogs. The grass drains well, is able to withstand wear and tear, is easy to maintain, and the knitted structure of K9Grass helps wick away urine for a cleaner facility. In addition, the grass blades are coated with an antimicrobial product which helps fight odors and creates a safer, cleaner environment for the dogs.

Sherelle from Mommie Bears Pet Care at the Shaw Field Dog Park on 11th & R Streets NW likes Shaw Field but she thinks K9Grass, at the 17h & S Street park, is more pet friendly.

The Friends of Bundy Park would like to hear your opinion on dog park surfacing materials. There are pros and cons to each: Pea gravel is apparently less expensive, but the apparently well heeled Circle Dogs Friends group friends group for the Dupont park seemed willing to pony up and spare no expense for their four-legged family members once they realized there was a variety of ground surfaces to select from.

This dog owner pefers K9Grass to pee gravel for a dog park surface.

At the end of the opening day event of the Dupont dog+people park on September 3, one of the Human Society's large dogs attacked a much smaller Chihuahua owned by a local resident. The Human Society was on hand that day to promote pet adoption. The Chihuahua was taken to a local animal hospital and lived, but the aggressive large dog was put down immediately. Some have said the Dupont park needs to have a small dog area, but since this was not a part of the initial plans, DPR officials have indicated that the current park is not likely to change at this point.

ANC SUPPORT
Once land transfers have been made and if/when DPR gives the go ahead for a dog park at Bundy, The Friends of Bundy Park will work with DPR officials to make final selections and contribute to the amenities that will be available at a Bundy dog park. The big differences in what the parks look like seems to be limited only by what the Friends Group and supporters are willing to contribute and how much they are able to dedicate from fundraising efforts. The Dupont area dog+people park has ornamental fencing, two large sculptures, attractive benches and elegant landscaping and a lighted plaza and seating just outside the fenced in dog park; the Shaw Field park has chain link fencing and a fenced in small dog area within the larger dog park, but minimal landscaping.

Also, although ANC2C was spit in its decision to give initial support for a dog park at Bundy Park and did not support the first presentation of the proposal, there is still room for second consideration. The ANC 2B / Dupont Circle's Advisory Neighborhood Commission voted unanimously to support the 17th & S Streets dog park plans once they had been formalized by DPR and the Circle Dogs Friends group:

The Commission heard a presentation by the Department of Parks and Recreation regarding S&T Street Parks and a request for ANC approval of final design prior to issuing bids for construction. Representatives appeared before the ANC and presented DPR’s proposal. Commissioners and residents discussed the height of the fence of the dog park. Commissioner Meehan made the following motion: "ANC 2B resolves that this is a terrific design, we approve it, and we urge expeditious implementation." Commissioner Carney seconded the motion. The motion carried (8-0)." [emphasis added]
— ANC2B May 2009 Minutes

But now that the neighboring ANC6C has given the Bundy Park dog park proposal unanimous support and there have been two new children's parks established in the immediate area of the Bundy Park, at Scott Montgomery Elementary, perhaps the Bundy dog park proposal will get more support from ANC2C on the next go round.

LABOR OF LOVE: LABOR DAY PHOTOS
Dupont Circle area Dog Park (17th & S Street)

The "people park" at 17th & T Street NW that was built in conjunction to the "people+dog park."

Shaw Field Dog Park

The people+dog park at 11th & R Streets NW