The Progress Dog Run exemplifies the principal that, in a neighborhood with a population predicted to quadruple in 7 years plus a rapidly expanding business population, every scrap of land must be put to use and any opportunity for neighborhood amenities must be carefully considered. It took real vision to see this narrow, triangular strip of land smack up against a freeway ramp as anything but the weedy, dusty mess it was. Today the property is Dogpatch’s only sanctioned off-leash dog play area, a much used and appreciated canine oasis.

Resident Bruce Huie and his neighbors created the dog run along with the conversion of nearby Progress Park. Like the main park, the dog run sits on state highway land and was created with the help of Public Works. The park not only provides an important amenity for the rapidly growing area but it helps positively activate a problematic stretch of under-freeway industrial parcels.

Maintaining such a heavily used facility has its challenges. The GBD has added French drains to better manage storm water by redirecting it from the play area into bordering gardens. A block long planter was added along the freeway edge to discourage digging along the fence line and a newly installed hedge will help filter dust and debris from the ramp. The GBD and its volunteers replace the run’s bark chip annually. Trees are pruned regularly. For more information about park improvements click HERE

PARKS