Shaw Dog Park Gets $75,000 City Grant for Improvements
Volunteers do monthly cleanups at the Shaw Dog Park on 11th Street NW. The park just received a $75,000 city grant for improvements. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Shaw Dogs has received a $75,000 grant from the city to make improvements at the public dog park at 11th and R Streets NW. Shaw Dogs is the non-profit group with responsibility for maintaining and operating the park.
George Kassouf, co-chair of Shaw Dogs, said he was notified Monday that they will receive the grant through the DC Neighborhood Investment Fund. NIF is handled by the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.
“We applied for the grant in May and got tentative approval a few weeks later, but I didn’t want to announce it until we received the official notice. We basically have Mayor Fenty, a big supporter of dogs parks and other recreational facilities, to thank for this grant,” Kassouf said.
Kassouf said that the funds will help pay for upgrades and improvements to the surface, water systems, fencing and gates. In addition, Shaw Dogs will be able to purchase landscaping items, including planter boxes, trees, shrubs and shade sails. They also plan to purchase new, sturdier benches.
According to Kassouf, only certain, targeted neighborhoods in DC are eligible for NIF grants. The Shaw Dog Park falls just within the border of one of those areas.
