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Bed-Stuy dog park expected to receive $1M to $3M in funding for reconstruction project

Many residents living in the neighborhood had mixed reactions on the update and the project's monumental financial backing.

Aurora Fowlkes

Nov 16, 2024, 3:59 AM

Updated 38 days ago

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Brooklyn residents may see a newly renovated Herbert Von King Dog Park in March 2025.
It's all thanks to $1 to $3 million in funding from the borough president, Mayor Eric Adams' office and City Council.
Many residents living in the neighborhood had mixed reactions on the update and the project's monumental financial backing.
“As dog owner, I think I'm really blessed that we're getting all this money because I do think there's a lot of renovations that could be done, says Mary Michael Quine, a Herbert Von King dog park goer. “That being said, if there’s a better use for the money that could benefit the community, then I can sacrifice my need for the renovations.”
Others like Bette Smith, a fellow dog parkgoer, say they can’t wait for the renovations, and hope the upgrade can include incorporating more shading and a proper drainage system.
“When it rains, there's just a lot of dog urine," says Smith. "Waste floats around and we can't get in."
While the exact details for the park’s redesign are "still pending approval," according to a statement from the Brooklyn Community Board, NYC Parks tells News 12 that it will "provide a much-needed haven for residents and their four-legged friends."
Long-time residents, like Stephen Hutchinson, say they aren't so sure that the ample amount of funding should go to the dog park. Among the parks rat-infested walkways, the uneven flooring, poor lighting and the playground's dingy climbing structures, Hutchinson refers to the entire park as a "health violation for children, particularly.
"Valuing our children behind our puppies; to my core, it bothers me," says Hutchinson.
The Brooklyn Community Board tells News 12 that it will hold a public hearing on Dec. 2, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. where the community can vocalize their concerns before voting on the matter.