Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Fido may have his own park to play in, if Hopewell Borough dog owners such as Clark Reed have their way.
Reed has approached Hopewell Borough officials about creating a “bark park” for dog owners in the borough.
“I drove my two German shepherd puppies to the dog park on Federal City Road in Pennington,” Reed told Hopewell Borough Council earlier this month, referring to the dog park at the Mercer County-owned Rosedale Park.
One section of the dog park is set aside for large dogs and another one is set aside for small dogs. There is a picnic table for the dog owners, and a water pipe that the dogs can run through, Reed said.
While he was letting his dogs exercise in the dog park, he said, he met a woman who traveled from Stockton to use the dog park.
“People come from all over (to use the dog park). It occurred to me, this could be an attraction of sorts. I really want to start the conversation,” Reed said, adding that there are “a lot” of dog owners in Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township.
Mayor Paul Anzano said the topic of a dog park had been raised previously, and that he had suggested the former Rockwell Automation property on Somerset Street as a possible location. But there was “no appetite” to pursue it at that time, he said.
Anzano said he would contact the owners of the Rockwell Automation property as a first step. It is the only property in Hopewell Borough that would be a good location for a dog park, he said, adding that Hopewell Park, at S. Greenwood and Columbia avenues, would not be suitable.
