By Phil Orlandella
In an effort to retain community input and support for renovations to the Richmond Street dog park, Responsible Urbanites For Fido (RUFF) have been attending community organization meetings.
Both RUFF President Leslie Horn Wallus and member Dave Goggins have attended FOCCP and NEWRA meetings to present plans for the Richmond Street project.
Ruff shared a rendering (draft) that is subject to change, RUFF claims they have been well received at these meetings. More community meeting will be held.
Plans show an updated Richmond Street dog run. RUFF plans to keep the current tree in front but add a community patio area on the sidewalk and in front of the dog park.
There will be a double-gated entry to the park that will run horizontally to the patio area which avoids the bottleneck on the sidewalk and sets the park back a bit from the sidewalk.
The park itself will be all open, the dead trees removed and opened to more space for the dogs to run.
Water, lighting, new fencing, and ground cover are all covered in these plans.
RUFF plans to release an online poll to allow residents a vote for turf, pea stone or are happy with any improvement.
The group hopes the poll and the community meetings will allow them to come to a final decision to move forward.