Pet owners can lose the leash at Cabin John, where a new dog park opened last Wednesday. The dog park is the fourth official canine-friendly facility in the Montgomery County Parks system, and has already received praise for its design in the days since opening to the public.
The dog park is a part of the greater Cabin John Regional Park, located at 10900 Westlake Drive. It totals 50,000 square feet, covering a little more than an acre between the mini-train tracks. The facility was completed after two months of summer construction.
The most attractive feature of the new park, described by designers and pet-owners alike, is its division in two main areas separating dogs by size. The 40,000 –square-foot large dog section was built for dogs exceeding 20 pounds, and the 10,000-square-foot small dog area is designated for those weighing less.
Cabin John Dog Park’s project manager CJ Lilly says this specific design, used for the first time at Cabin John, addresses the possibility of aggression that arises any time dogs find themselves in the same vicinity without a leash.
"There is a huge disparity in sizes in dogs," said Lilly. "[The park] provides owners with a safer environment."
Dog owner Jeanine Poltronieri agrees, saying her 15-pound poodle-mix has a history of picking fights with dogs three times his size. Poltronieri says the new amenities allow her pet to exercise off the leash without any threat of attack.
Cabin John Dog Park is surrounded by six feet of fence, and offers a rock-climbing structure and water fountains for both dogs and owners. Some first-time visitors to the dog park commented on the mere presence of shade and benches available to owners while supervising their roaming pets.
"They’ve really thought of everything," said Montgomery County resident Penny Alberg, who also said she doesn’t think other public dog facilities don’t measure up to Cabin John’s new park.
The park will celebrate a grand opening on Oct. 31 with "Howl-o-Ween." It is free for patrons, open every day from sunrise to sunset except for routine maintenance checks on Tuesday mornings. Lilly says dog parks are always a high demand by area residents, and they have been pleased with the positive feedback from pet-owners.
"It’s a great facility," said Lilly. "The community waited anxiously for it and we believe it meets the needs of the dogs and dog owners."