Dog Park Expansion to Cost Town About $13,000

Nearly a year after local animal advocate Dawn Bennett approached members of the Southold Town Board with a, the plan is approaching final approval.

Jim McMahon, head of the town's Department of Public Works, told the board during Tuesday's work session that it will cost about $13,000 to double the size the current facility by removing and replacing fencing, removing asphalt, adding benches for dogs owners and adding trees and brush to the park.

"The major cost here is the fencing," McMahon said.

Supervisor Russell said that Bennett had agreed to oversee donations of plantings for the trees. The board agreed that since the park expansion would be a permanent improvement for the community, the money should come from parks and recreation department funds.

"It is something that is used on a daily basis," McMahon said.

The new facility would separate small dogs from larger dogs — something the current facility does not do and something that was a concern for Bennett, the owner of the, upon first proposing the idea to the Town.

“I just thought, ‘There’s got to be something better,’” she told Patch this past January.