Dog Park Update: The Grass is Always Greener When It’s Artificial

The city appears to be close to finishing the dog park at 17th & S Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)

Artificial turf went down at the new dog park at 17th & S Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
The city dog park under construction at 17th-S-New Hampshire NW seems to be almost ready. Today I watched them put down some very green material that is some sort of artificial turf (think AstroTurf). The workers unrolled the sheets-of-green and then stapled it down. There is even an artificial hill in the center of the park.
After delays due to the heavy May and June rains, a great deal of work has been done in the past week–although I didn’t see an opening date posted on the location today.
I have to ask… What will dog pee do to artificial turf? Will it be easy to pick up dog-doo? Will the turf be hosed down with detergent periodically?
I have to say, though, that artificial turf sounds better than the sharp, dusty rock chips in the Shaw Dog Park at 11th and R NW. Lupe often comes home with banged up feet from that surface.
- Get more information about the park at the DC Parks and Recreation Web site.