Several elected officials were recently in attendance to unveil a brand new dog run that has opened in Shore Road Park in Bay Ridge.
NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher was joined by New York City Council Member Justin Brannan and various members of the community to show off the $1 million construction project, which transformed an unused asphalt space into a place for canines to play freely.
"Parks and greenspaces are vital to the health and happiness of all New Yorkers — and that includes our four-legged friends,” said Maher. "I'm proud that we have transformed this unused space into a brand new community resource that Bay Ridge residents, humans and dogs alike, can enjoy for generations.”
Among the features of Bay Ridge’s new dog run include numerous seating, an accessible walkway, water access for both dogs and humans, as well as a synthetic turf area that utilizes special dog-friendly materials (which was reportedly requested by the community during public meetings), to name a few.
The dog run was named after Frank Decolvenaere, a Bay Ridge community member who was unfortunately killed while walking his dog back in 2020.
During one fateful day, Decolvenaere was out for a stroll with his canine companion, Stormy, when the Brooklyn resident was struck and killed by a speeding driver.
Stormy, who incurred injuries from the crash, managed to travel ten blocks back home to alert Decolvenaere’s family about the incident.
Naming the dog-friendly location “The Frank Decolvenaere Dog Run” was an idea that was reportedly endorsed by the Bay Ridge community, and serves to celebrate a man who once called the Brooklyn neighborhood his home for over 20 years, according to NYC Parks.
