March 10th 2024

Sea Isle City’s nearly $1 million dog park will have some unique amenities, with separate play areas for big and little dogs, all fenced in a safe, confined environment.

There will be obstacle courses featuring hurdles, ramps and play tunnels to test the dogs’ stamina and agility.

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Wen the dogs need a break, they’ll be able to rest under two shade pavilions and quench their thirst at the doggie water stations.

Under construction since last October, the dog park is quickly taking shape at the north end of Sea Isle on Landis Avenue between Sixth and Eighth streets.

At this point, the dog park’s cement pathways, benches, flag poles, pavilions and water stations are in place.

“Construction of our future dog park is coming along very well, and before long we will be announcing the date of a ribbon-cutting ceremony for that facility,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said in a statement updating the public on the project.

Desiderio added that the dog park will offer “plenty of fun for your four-legged friends.”

Although the focus will be on the dogs, a third shade pavilion has been built next door to the park to give the human visitors refuge from the sun and heat. It will also be a place for picnics.

Additional amenities included in the project cater to owners, such as bicycle racks, a bicycle repair station, trash and recycling receptacles, and landscaping. Sea Isle has been planning/building its inaugural dog park for approximately five years.

Earlier, Desiderio declared that there will be no charge for dog owners to access the park. However, dogs must be licensed and vaccinated.

This $968,000 initiative is being financed with assistance from an $850,000 grant from the Cape May County Open Space Board.

Situated adjacent to the marshlands in a secluded spot away from residential areas, the dog park ensures minimal disturbance to homeowners from barking or other noise.

The decision to place the dog park on Landis Avenue, between Sixth and Eighth streets, also took parking into account. In 2019, as part of a restriping plan to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety along the Landis Avenue corridor, two new parking lots were constructed in the same vicinity. Pet owners utilizing the dog park will have access to these parking lots.

Once finished, the park will offer dogs a dedicated playground, alleviating their owners' concerns and troubles associated with finding suitable spaces for walks and runs throughout the year.

During the tranquil offseason period, the city suspends its prohibition on dogs on the beaches, allowing canines and their owners the opportunity to enjoy the expansive shoreline.

However, when summer arrives, vacationers populate the beaches, depriving dogs of their sandy haven. Without a designated area, dogs and their owners typically resort to walking along streets and sidewalks during the summer months for exercise.