Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Dog-friendly Movies in Red Hook

Valentino Park in Red Hook is showing movies on Tuesday nights this summer, and well-behaved dogs are welcome, according to the website. I haven't checked it out yet but will soon, maybe for Splash or Jaws next month.

Each week also features an exciting local food vendor! Next Tuesday, July 27 they are showing Big Wednesday, a so-bad-it's-good surfer movie.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Funding for Renovation!!

We have fantastic news! The city has agreed to fund a renovation of our dog park. All your calls and letters have made a difference! Here is the statement from Councilmember Lander:

Borough President Marty Markowitz and City Councilmember Brad Lander were able to provide for the allocation of $450,000 in funding to the Parks Department to make improvements to DiMattina Dog Park at Hicks Street and Woodhull Street in Carroll Gardens .

The Parks department will begin the scoping process to determine the nature of these improvements later this summer and will make those meetings open to interested stakeholders. The Borough President and the Councilmember look forward to working with the Parks Department, the neighbors and the members of the Carroll Gardens Dog Owners Group to ensure a successful project that the whole neighborhood will benefit from.

At these meetings we will discuss the following improvements:
- resurfacing the dog park
- installation or repair of the drainage system
- additional lighting in the rear of the park
- removal of dead trees
- replacing broken fountain
- possibility of expanding the park area and including a small dog area

We would have not gotten this funding without the persistent advocacy of James Aridas, who was part of the original group that established the DiMattina dog park. We are grateful to Brad Lander and Marty Markowitz for making this project possible and to our State Assembly Member Joan Millman and Brooklyn Parks Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel for their support.

Now the real work begins! We will keep you informed as this project develops.