TRIBECA — Downtown's dogs have a fancy new play space along the Hudson River in TriBeCa.
The expansive new dog run, near Hubert Street, features separate areas for large and small dogs, pup-sized water fountains and gray-blue pavement designed to appear vibrant blue through a dog's color-blind eyes.
The dog run opened Monday morning as part of a new $6.4 million section of Hudson River Park, which also features landscaped lawns and planting beds between Pier 25 and Pier 26.
Shortly after the run welcomed its first pups, 4-year-old Pepper tried out the new park's centerpiece: step-activated sprinklers, much like the children's spray fountains in other parks around the city. The run also includes trees and umbrellas to keep dogs cool in the summer.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this run to open,” said Serena Roosevelt, a TriBeCa resident and Pepper's owner. “Now our kids can play at the Pier 25 playground, and she has her own place to play.”
The revamped slice of Hudson River Park, several years in the making, creates a beautified pathway to the new, 3,335 square-foot waterfront eatery currently under construction on Pier 26, said Madelyn Wils, president of Hudson River Park Trust, while holding her new puppy Rosie, as her 12-year-old Bijon, Lola, sat at her feet.
The Trust is currently seeking proposals for a restaurateur to take the helm of the year-round eatery, slated to open by May 2014, which will feature a large roof deck and outdoor dining, to take advantage of sweeping city and Hudson River views.
"So we're so happy to finally have this wonderful new space and dog run open," said Wils. "We're proud to offer even more amenities to all New Yorkers and their dogs."
