San Francisco Recreation and Park Department officials threw a bone to both dogs and their owners Tuesday as they unveiled a new dog play area during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lafayette Park in the city's Pacific Heights neighborhood.
The $305,000 project at the park, located at the corner of Gough and Washington streets, provides the new play area with synthetic turf, a new gate and metal fencing, according to park officials.
Of the 29 dog play areas throughout the city provided by the department, the Lafayette Park dog play area is the first with all-synthetic turf. With the new turf, dogs and their owners can enjoy the area even through the rainy season.
Additionally, the turf requires less water and maintenance than traditional grass, park officials said.
"Lafayette Dog Park is now a state-of-the-art dog play area that won't have to be closed during the winter," Rec & Park general manager Phil Ginsburg said in a statement. "We now have a thousand hours of extra yearly play that wasn't available before."
"This project dramatically improves dog facilities for our residents and families," District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell said in a statement. "This project would not have been possible without the SF Rec and Park and the Friends of Lafayette Park. I am grateful for all of their efforts and commitments to providing more access and facilities for dogs and their owners."
