Big Upgrades Coming For Dog Run At Maria Hernandez Park In Bushwick

BUSHWICK, NY — Planned improvements at Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick will make the days of muddy, dusty trips to the dog park a thing of the past.

The New York City Parks Department plans to completely reconstruct the all-dirt dog run to make "a beautiful, safe space for recreation and connection," officials said.

Preliminary plans for the reconstruction include dog-friendly turf with drainage, improved lighting and fencing, shaded seating around the perimeter, and drinking fountains with dog bowls. Plans shared by NYC Parks also include expanding the dog run areas.

The "Dog Run Pack" volunteer group, which helps keep maintenance of the park, said in an Instagram post that members were "overall pleased" with the initial design, which will address flooding issues. The Dog Run Pack also recommends adding a small gravel area for pet relief to lessen waste on the turf, and expanding paving area around the entrances to allow for proper ADA access.

This project is currently in the design phase, with the parks department incorporating feedback from the Community Board before they plan to present a final design in February.

The parks department anticipates project completion to be by Jan. 2025, but construction timelines are not set yet.

The dog run reconstruction is funded together with planned playground improvements, NYC Parks noted. The total budget for the work at Maria Hernandez Park is $6.78 million, funded by City Council.

Martin Maher, NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner, said the revamped dog run "will be a great enhancement to this beloved park."

"We're so grateful to Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez for her investments in this park, making possible this dog run reconstruction and a slate of improvements to the playground," said Maher in a statement.