Mission Statement
To lend support in the creation and maintenance of the Ossining Dog Park. To provide ongoing community assistance. To maintain it as a recreational asset to the Town/Village of Ossining. To maintain a positive presence in the community, encourage community/member involvement, and recreation through the Dog Park. Strengthen community values and compliance with canine laws by promoting dog access policies and responsible dog ownership. Support conservation of open land by containing the areas used for recreation by citizens with their dogs. Educate the community about responsible dog ownership.
Ossining Dog Park was the first fenced in off leash Dog Park in Westchester County. It opened in the fall of 2003, on the site of an unused town swimming pool within the Cedar Lane Park. It took over a year for the word to spread and has turned into one of the most popular places to be in Ossining.
The "Friends of Cedar Lane Dog Park" was established to raise money for improvements to the park, organize special events such as Bark in the Park (a huge vendor event, along with games, micro chipping, etc), Unleashed (annual winter function minus the pups with silent auctions, etc ).
The park has since moved up the hill when the Blueberry Pond Theatre moved into the vacant building, and the Town and Village of Ossining very generously offered us 2 acres in the park up the hill. We needed to raise the money to fence in the area; the town cleared and cleaned the area out that was used for the Halloween Hayride. The monies including a $5,000 grant from Starbucks was raised, and in June of 2006, the Ossining Dog Park opened with a big celebration for people and their pups.
The Ossining Dog Park is an enclosed 2 acres of wood chips, trees, and great terrain. We have three double-gated entries (two entries are into the large Dog Park and one entry is into the dedicated small dog area.)
In 2007, the Town/Village started the water project to bring the water lines up to us so we will be able to install the water fountain that is for dogs and human use. There is well water in the Dog Park, but it is not for consumption. The project is completed WE HAVE FRESH WATER!
In 2008, we have gone "GREEN" providing doggie valets along with their eco-friendly bags.
We installed a warming shed in 2007 to block you from the wind (which is lovely in the summer, but can be brutal in the winter, when the pups are running around in the snow. Volunteers put up the shed in 1 day; it was a great effort by all from the designing to the actual building of it.
We have lights on timers for the late birds that come to the park in the summer, and for those that want to venture out in the winter after work to let the dogs have a run. This was another "volunteer" project accomplished by the users of the Dog Park.
Plans are being made for future projects, such as a wall made of memorial bricks, built with donations, inscribed with pets names (not limited to dogs) who have gone to The Rainbow Bridge or for the dogs that are still enjoying the park, and just want to have their name up there to say they were there!
All ideas and suggestions are always welcome.
The membership has grown to over 200 dog lovers. We always welcome new members and seek to add to this group. If you wish to join in this effort, or need additional information, please contact us at ossiningdogpark@optonline.net
