By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City is gearing up for one busy Saturday. To top off all of the festivities that make up the city’s annual Community Day celebration on May 4 will be the official opening of the new dog park.
The ribbon-cutting will be held at 3 p.m. at the nearly $1 million dog park at 7th Street and Landis Avenue with a ceremony hosted by Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
The day also features a host of other events, including a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Sea Isle City Community Center at the site of the former school on Park Road, and a host of activities and award ceremonies.
“Obviously, it is a busy day. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Community Center and the dog park grand opening are the icing on the cake. During the grand opening for the dog park, there will be a ceremony where the mayor will cut a ceremonial ribbon and invite all people and their dogs present to begin enjoying the park immediately,” Sea Isle Public Information Officer Katherine Custer said in an interview Tuesday.
The dog park was funded mostly by the Cape May County Open Spaces Board. The park features many amenities, including two fenced-in areas with sand surfaces for both large and small dogs. Each section has a shade pavilion, water stations, playground-style fixtures, waste receptacles and benches, Custer said.
For exercise, there will be obstacle courses featuring hurdles, ramps and play tunnels to test the dogs’ stamina and agility.
She said that the idea for a sand surface came about because many resort visitors and their dogs love the beach.
“Sea Isle City is a very dog-friendly community,” Custer said. “This is a welcome addition to the many public facilities.”
In addition to amenities to keep people and their pets comfortable, the dog park offers an additional shade pavilion with picnic tables, just outside of the fenced-in areas. There are also bicycle racks, a bicycle repair station, trash and recycling receptacles, new landscaping and flag poles.
While Custer said that the city hopes all pet lovers and their dogs enjoy the city’s new amenity in the shore town, there are some rules that need to be followed by visitors.
“We ask everyone to follow the rules posted at the entrances. All dogs must be vaccinated and licensed and we ask all dog owners to be responsible to clean up after their pets,” Custer said. “There are ample waste facilities in all the pens. It is easy to be courteous for all the other dog owners. There are water stations for people and pets. It has a dog bowl that could be filled, a traditional bubbling water fountain and a water bottle filler.”
Here is a list of all of the activities featured on Community Day:
A City Council Meeting at 9 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall, 233 JFK Boulevard.
Free Document Shredding from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the Community Lodge parking lot, 300 JFK Boulevard (adjacent to the Welcome Center).
A Municipal Bicycle Auction at 10:15 a.m. in the Community Lodge parking lot.
A “Meet & Greet” from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Community Lodge, where the public can speak with city and county officials as well as representatives from local civic organizations – and enjoy face painters and free gifts.
An Awards Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Community Lodge, where standout members of the community will be honored.
Two Historical Plaque Unveiling Ceremonies starting at approximately 12:15 p.m. on the corner of JFK Boulevard and Park Road (honoring Mayor William Haffert) and on the Promenade at 31st Street (commemorating Ludlam Beach Lighthouse).
A groundbreaking ceremony for Sea Isle City’s future Community Center at 1:30 p.m., 4501 Park Road.
A ribbon-cutting for the new Sea Isle Dog Park at 3 p.m. at the facility located at 7th Street and Landis Avenue.
For more information about Sea Isle City’s Dog Park ribbon -cutting ceremony or any of the events taking place on May 4, call Sea Isle City’s Public Relations Desk 609-263-8687, ext. 103.
