Pooches get their own playground in Roxbury

By Nick Lioudis
Star-Ledger Staff

From the moment Roxbury Dog Park Committee Inc. president and Succasunna resident Heather Darling broke ground on the new dog park on Emmons Road last month, she'd seen owners rolling in with their pets.

Nearly a year and a half raising private funds and putting together a 40-page business plan, Darling said that challenge of getting the township's approval for the park was well worth it.

"It was something no one (initially) thought of, but when it arose it took off because it was a really good idea," she said. Although there hasn't been an official grand opening for the dog park, the one-eighth acre of land has been open since Feb. 17 to any dog owners-in or outside of Roxbury-who purchase a $20 yearly tag at the of Board of Health.

The main feature of the park - from the pea gravel spread that goes easy on a dog's paw to the 6-foot fence that surrounds it - were donated by Morris County businesses rather than paid for by Roxbury residents' taxes. Berkendorf's Landscaping donated about $10,000 worth of materials and labor, while Pet Goods of Succasunna and Abbey Glen Pet Memorial also made substantial donations, including pipes for water drainage and benches.

The committee chose a secluded area of Emmons Road Park as the site for the park, mainly because noise wouldn't be an issue for the few residents who live there,. but also in hopes that its popularity could lead to creating a larger do park in in the future. "I think there's a need for it." said Councilman Martin Schmidt, a member of the dog park committee and a pet owner who brings his dog to the park. "It's going to be a big community gathering place."

Committee member Michele Kotarski a lifelong resident of Roxbury Township and owner of gift basket store Bellisimo in Succasunna, said she's glad dog owners who come into her store no longer need to complain about the township's lack of a dog park. Even though this is the first dog park for Roxbury Township, dog parks are not unusual for Morris County. Morristown's Lewis-Morris Park incorporate a dog park years ago, and other designated dog park areas are scattered throughout the county.

A list of rules are posted on the fence, among them warnings that children under the age of 16 are prohibited without a parent for safety reasons ad that dogs must be off-leash at all times. Darling said the grand opening complete with activities and representatives from dog adoption agencies, is expected to take place towards the end of April or early May. "If someone can take their dog to the park and give it exercise instead of walking two miles, it's the perfect scenario," she said.