WHAT: Hart’s Dog Park grand opening ceremony

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: 194 W. Santa Clara St., between San Pedro Street and Almaden Blvd.

WHO: Downtown Property Owners and residents, working with San Jose Downtown Association

VISUALS: Residents and small dogs playing in a new oasis along one of downtown San Jose’s busiest corridors

BACKGROUND: The Downtown Association, working with property owners, has created a dog park – the first of its kind in downtown San Jose – to give the rising dog population downtown a place to play off leash. The 2,000+ new high-rise apartments built the past five years around San Pedro Square and less than a quarter-mile from the new dog park all welcome canines.

The new park is 2,000 square feet and includes a double gate, artificial turf, benches, decorative (and energy-efficient) lighting, planters and tree stumps for play. A mural by local artist Tom Colla on the wall gives the park its name – Hart’s Dog Park – named after a former long-time downtown department store.

The site has remained vacant for more than a decade after a fire destroyed the previous structure. The park will remain in place until the site is developed. The same owner owns the vacant parcel and the two small buildings on both sides.

Groundwerx will maintain the park.

“This is a perfect opportunity to re-energize the abandoned space into an asset and partner with the local community,” says Jason Su, SJDA Street Life Manager.

“This is a place for dogs to roam free safely and off-leash that also has all the amenities man and dog need,” says Stephanie Wong, project manager.