New Pelham Parkway dog run opens at Bronx Park East
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
A long-awaited dog run
was dedicated with great joy
and excitement.
The Pelham Parkway community
saw a fi ve-year goal
realized as the NYC Parks
Department cut a ribbon on a
long-awaited dog run in Bronx
Park East just south of the
parkway near Boston Road on
Tuesday, July 9.
The Bronx River Park Dog
Run will give pooches both
large and small a chance to
run, stretch their legs and exercise.
Please join us for our
6:30 - 10:30 PM
oin s for an eening of good food, msic and fn to benet PCC
Honorees
AnaMarie Murphy – dministratie ssistant, Hman esorces fcer, PHS
For her faithful leadership, friendship and untiring dedication and service to the Sisters of Divine Compassion, PCC, and PHS for over 13 years.
obert Crafa Waterfront
irector, S Maritime College
For his extraordinary commitment to Preston Center of Compassion Summer Recreational Program and the Bronx community for over 12 years.
Throggs eck Commnity ction Partnership (TCP)
Under the auspices of
rchdiocese of
rg bse Preention Program (
PP)
For CPs strong memership support and dedication to the hroggs ec community since 1 .
Sponsored in part by:
Bronx
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 8 ULY 12-18, 2019 BTR
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Address _______________________Email ___________________
I am purchasing ____ dinner reservations at $50 each. (BEFORE July 8th)
I am purchasing ____ dinner reservations at $60 each. (AFTER July 9th)
am purchasing rafe ticets at 2 each.
Rafes ill e dran hursday, ugust 1, 21 at fundraiser.
Winner need not be present.
ould lie to mae a donation in the amount of
____________________ to Preston Center of Compassion.
Make checks payable to
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or
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that addresses critical community needs y providing counseling, mentoring, leadership, empoerment, spirituality,
and educational support services and programs for omen, children and families ho are most in need.
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Prizes
1st Prize $5,000*
2nd Prize 2 Tickets to Hamilton on Broadway
3rd Prize Manhattan Getaway
One night accommodation to Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel,
Two tickets to Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Plaza
and Dinner for o at Rosie radys imes Suare Restaurant.
4th Prize iPad, Donated y Fitgeral alde,
Manager of Citibank, Throggs Neck Branch
5th Prize Sports Mania Package
Four anee icets AND Four ets icets,
afe will be drawn Thrsday, gst 1st, 201
Winner need not be present.
Space has been donated by SCHUYLER HILL FUNERAL HOME
It features separate exercise
areas to accommodate
size animals, and natural
boulders as dog play elements,
according to Parks.
The Pelham Parkway
Neighborhood Association
had lobbied then Councilman
James Vacca some years back
for funding for the project after
association members had to
travel a great distance to other
dog runs, such as the one in
Pelham Bay Park, said Edith
Blitzer, PPNA president.
Blitzer said that aside from
the benefi ts the new park amenity
will bring to dog owners,
the dog run could serve
(l-r) Romina Enea, representing Councilman Ritchie Torres; Debby Kawalick of the PPNA; Councilman Mark
Gjonaj; Marisol Halpern, representing Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell
Silver; former Councilman Jimmy Vacca; PPNA President Edith Blitzer; Andrea Siegel of PPNA; Assemblywoman
Nathalia Fernandez, and NYC Parks Bronx Commissioner Iris Rodriquez Rosa cut ribbon on Pelham Parkway’s
long-anticipated dog run on Thursday, July 9 at Bronx Park East. Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
to bring neighbors closer together
in other ways.
“We wanted this dog run
for another specifi c reason:
because the people in the community
could get to know each
other while watching their
dogs,” said Blitzer.
Andrea Siegel, a PPPA
board member, said that facilities
like the dog run bring
people closer together and indicated
the opening of the run
can give community activists
encouragement to advocate
for further improvements.
Blitzer said after a PPPA
member suggested the construction
of a dog run for the
Pelham Parkway community,
she met over coffee with
former Councilman James
Vacca, who attended the ribbon
cutting and said he was
able to start the process and
get the ball rolling for the project
before he left offi ce.
The $592,000 project was
funded by Councilman Ritchie
Torres’ $300,000 in capital
funding, $238,000 from Borough
President Ruben Diaz,
Jr., and $54,000 from Mayor de
Blasio.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
took care of the water supply
and made sure the run was
placed where there was adequate
shade.
“I think that the dog run
is great, you can see there is
so much enthusiasm,” said
Gjonaj, adding “Immediately,
the fi rst thing that was brought
to my attention was the lack of
water supply, and we are going
to address that quickly.”
One of the dog run’s inaugural
users, Gene DeFrancis
of Allerton, attended the
ribbon cutting with his pets
Ronin and Peppa.
Prior to the opening of
this dog run, he said he would
sometimes drive with his dogs
to a beach, or even to parks in
other counties for them to exercise.
“There was nothing
nearby,” he said of the situation
prior to July 9. “You can
have a big dog (like these) in
the city, but you have to exercise
them because it is important
for their health.”
Additional dignitaries
and community members attending
the ribbon cutting included
Assemblywoman Nathalia
Fernandez; Mitchell
Silver, NYC Parks commissioner
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa,
NYC Parks Bronx commissioner,
and Community Board
11 members.
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