WEST LAWN — Pooches on the Southwest Side have two new spots to run around and meet buddies.
A more than 10,000-square-foot dog park opened Saturday in West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St. Converted from an old batting cage, Woof Lawn Park has separate sections for big and small dogs, Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) said.
Another dog park, Wentwoof Park, opened last month in Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile Ave., Quinn said.
Funding for the parks came from the 13th Ward’s infrastructure budget, Quinn said. Neighbors fundraised for some of the dog “obstacles” inside the park, he said.
Quinn said his constituents were excited by the idea to have dog-friendly spaces in the ward. He said he’s spoken with neighbors who have already reported making new friends thanks to the dog parks.
“What we’ve come to recognize from a community benefits standpoint is this is another contribution to our community owning its common spaces,” Quinn said. “People who have never gone to the park are now going to the park. … That sort of bonding has had a positive impact on the community.
The city has dozens of dog-friendly spaces within Chicago parks, but the majority of them are on the North Side, according to a Chicago Park District map.
The introduction of these dog parks to Garfield Ridge and West Lawn is another way to close the “equity gap” between the North and South sides, Quinn said.
“That’s been one of my primary motivational factors as alderman,” he said.
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