MAMARONECK, NY — Grand openings are generally ceremonial affairs, but at the official opening of the “Bark Park” at Harbor Island, the first visitors were absolutely leaping with joy.
One lucky pup, named Henry, christened the new dog recreation area just minutes after elected officials opened the gates.
“He was looking for his friends before we even got close,” Henry’s owner, Janice Lipa, said before her four-legged companion demanded her attention. “Sorry, looks like he wants to show me around.”
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While Saturday’s official Bark Park opening was something of an open house, the new facilities will be a little more exclusive in the future. The park will be open only to licensed, vaccinated dogs whose owners reside in the Village of Mamaroneck. Families will pay an annual fee of $26, plus a one-time $16 fee for a key fob for access to the facility.
While a space for man’s best friend to socialize with fellow dogs seems like something that would transcend the divisiveness of politics, the project was surprisingly controversial with neighbors at previously proposed sites raising concerns about noise and traffic. After decades of wrangling, and tightening rules about who could use the facilities and when, the village’s furriest residents finally have a public space to call their own.
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“I’m very, very proud that we got it done after only 20 years,” Mayor Tom Murphy joked. “But, you know what? Good things happen to those who wait.”
Murphy singled out Village Manager Jerry Barberio for encouraging the village to “dream big” and helping to finally usher the Bark Park project across the finish line.
“For the dogs we have here today, that are going to enjoy this for the rest of their lives, and most importantly for the owners who are gonna get a chance to socialize, meet each other, meet new friends, know their neighbors,” Murphy said, “this is really an important amenity for the people of the Village of Mamaroneck.”
There is one constituency that harbors no ill feelings about the politics at play and offered a full-throated and jubilant endorsement of the new park. While none of the dozens of dogs exploring the facilities was willing to take time away from meeting new friends to speak to Patch, based solely on the amount of joyous zooming taking place, we feel confident declaring universal approval of the Bark Park among Mamaroneck’s canine neighbors.
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