Newmarket dog park to open Aug. 8

Yorkregion.com
July 30, 2015
By Chris Simon

It’s been a ‘ruff’ last few months, but Newmarket’s dog park is finally ready to make its debut.

The amenity at George Richardson Park will open Aug. 8 at 2 p.m.

The park was initially supposed to be in operation in early May, but the construction schedule was delayed while crews worked to remove a significant amount of glass and metal debris that littered the area. The debris is from a defunct landfill site that sits under the park.

“The opening of Newmarket’s first leash-free dog park will provide our residents and their dogs with a place to meet, exercise and socialize,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said in an email. “This dog park is a great example of a community working together to make something great happen in the town.”

The landfill was in operation between the end of the Second World War and the early 1970s.

It has been capped for decades and the park is considered safe for the many recreational activities in the area, including play on nearby soccer pitches and baseball diamonds.

However, construction crews brought the material to the surface during the fall, while they were digging fencepost holes more than .5 metres below the dog park.

To ensure the safety of pets and residents, crews laid a geotextile composite material below the surface of the dog park. The fabric will prevent animals from digging too far below ground level. It will then be covered by soil and wood chips.