By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City has a host of amenities for families to enjoy year-round. And the latest attraction, which is expected to be completed in about five months, is going to the dogs – literally.
The city’s dog park, currently being constructed in the north end of town, will give pooches an area for plenty of exercise and fun and even a spot for their humans to enjoy.
At the end of January, concrete work was nearing completion on the facility’s pathways and foundations, officials said.
“Construction is going well. The majority of the cement work has been completed for the pathways and parking areas,” Sea Isle City Public Information Officer Katherine Custer said Wednesday. “It’s going to be a beautiful facility that I think the public will really enjoy.”
The $968,000 project is being built along Landis Avenue between Sixth and Eighth streets. The Cape May County Open Space Board is financing most of the cost with $850,000 in funding.
Custer noted that the city is working closely with the county on the park.
She said the hope is for an early summer grand opening. However, it is all dependent upon the materials being delivered.
“We anticipate the park will be completed by early summer. That all depends on materials being delivered and supply chain issues not getting in the way,” Custer said. “The contractor is trying diligently to get the supplies delivered in a timely fashion and our city engineers are monitoring the project to ensure that work continues as it should.”
While the city will maintain the dog park, what makes it really nice for people and their pets is that they can use it at their leisure, since it is a self-serve park.
Custer noted that she thinks the park will be a popular attraction since there are many residents and tourists who are dog lovers.
“Sea Isle City has always been a community where people like spending time with their four legged friends,” Custer said. “We see it in the offseason and the summer as well. And that is why a dog park is a perfect fit for our community and we think people and their pets will enjoy the park when it is completed.”
Amenities will include doggy obstacles, water fountains and a safe, fenced-in environment for all of the canines. There will also be two shade pavilions to keep the dogs comfortable and cool.
The landscaped park will be configured to have a section for small dogs and a separate area for larger dogs. It will have a sandy ground surface.
Although the focus will be on the dogs, a third shade pavilion will be placed next door to the park to give the human visitors refuge from the sun and heat. It will also be a place for picnics.
The dog park’s location is next to the marshlands in a secluded area away from residential neighborhoods, so homeowners will not be disturbed by barking or other noise.
Two new parking lots were built in the same area as the dog park in 2019. Pet owners using the dog park will be able to use the parking lots.
