Does your pooch need a new place to let it all hang out? Well, if so, you're in luck.
Construction on the largest and newest dog park inside Houston's beltway, located within Buffalo Bayou Park, is finally moving toward completion.
The $1.5 million dog park, situated in the 2700 block of Allen Parkway at Studewood, is just one part of the ambitious $58 million renovation project which hopes to solidify Buffalo Bayou Park as one of the city's top public spaces.
Since the new park is expected to draw plenty of visitors, 17 extra parking spaces are being added along the Allen Parkway frontage road.
The new dog park, expected to be complete by late fall, is aiming to be a haven for people and pups alike. The two-acre play area will feature upgrades like a four-foot-tall wrought iron fence and two low-lying ponds — one for small dogs and another for larger ones — filled with filtered water from the bayou. Dedicated dog-washing stations will also be available to let owners clean their four-legged friends before heading home.
Large structures with overhangs will provide shade on hot Houston days and improved lighting allows owners to bring their pooch out after dark. Since the new park is expected to draw plenty of visitors, 17 extra parking spaces are being added along the Allen Parkway frontage road.
"We worked closely with dog lovers in the area to make sure this will be a great spot," Anne Olson, president of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, told CultureMap when plans for the park were first revealed.
The only dog park in the city larger than Buffalo Bayou's new park is the 17-acre Bill Archer Dog Park outside Beltway 8 at Highway 6.
Once completed, Buffalo Bayou Park will feature five miles of 10-foot-wide concrete trails, as well as new benches, better landscaping and additional drinking fountains along the way. A bike rental facility, open-air pavilion, new pedestrian bridges, restrooms, "nature playground," added parking and the return of the Lost Lake are also part of the park's massive renovation project.
The new dog park in Buffalo Bayou Park is expected to be complete by late fall.
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Photo by Leonid Furmansky