Gottheimer, 9/11 First Responder Visit Glen Rock Dog Park

GLEN ROCK, NJ - Glen Rock's future dog park received a few special visitors over the weekend.

On Sunday, U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, along with Jamie Hazan, a 9/11 first responder and advocate, stopped by the town's first dog park, which will officially be dedicated to the 300 search and rescue dogs that took part in recovery efforts at Ground Zero following Sept. 11, 2001.

They were joined by Glen Rock Dog Park Board President Eileen Maher Hillock, Board Vice President Lisa Schor Babin and Board Members Christine and Jay Ross.

The park's vendors, who have contributed much of their work on a pro bono basis, Glen Rock resident Phil Gulmy of Gulmy Construction and Brian Houseworth of Jan Fence Company, also attended.

A group of dedicated residents has spearheaded the years-long effort to bring a dog park to Glen Rock. It is completely privately funded through donations and grants, including a $5,000 one from the Greater Bergen Association of Realtors.

Last spring, ground was broken on the 1-acre park, which is located on an empty plot of unused borough land behind the recycling center on Doremus Avenue. It will be divided into two sections, one for large dogs and another for small ones.

Michelle Hillock, 20, has been working on bringing a dog park to Glen Rock since she was 15 and pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Her mother Eileen was in the South Tower during the 9/11 attack and is now the Board President of the future Glen Rock Dog Park.

For more information about the dog park, visit the project's website.

“This project is truly a testament to the Glen Rock community and to Michelle Hillock’s spirit, and how we can all come together, whether it’s through volunteerism or contributions or hard work, to support an important cause,” Gottheimer said. “We must continue to get the backs of those who bravely had ours and stood up to terrorism on that tragic day. We also remember those we’ve lost since and we remember all the dogs who played such a vital role in the search and rescue efforts. I’m glad we’re honoring them in this way right here in Glen Rock.”

The last living person rescued from Ground Zero, 27 hours after the collapse, was found by a search and rescue dog. The last known 9/11 search and rescue dog was laid to rest in 2016.