Dog Park Construction

Utica Mayor Robert M. Palmieri, along with North Utica Councilman Joseph Betrus, announced the construction of two new dog parks in the City of Utica.

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MAYOR PALMIERI ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION START OF TWO NEW DOG PARKS WITH COUNCILMAN BETRUS

Utica Mayor Robert M. Palmieri, along with North Utica Councilman Joseph Betrus, announced the construction of two new dog parks in the City of Utica. The construction of these two parks are part of an effort to diversify the Utica parks system to allow residents more outdoor opportunities for recreation and fitness.

One of the dog parks will be located at Thomas R. Proctor Park along Welsh Bush Road. This park will expand upon the recreational space available at T.R. Proctor Park and will feature water fountains for both dogs and people, a shade pavilion, a field hydrant and benches.  The other park will be located at North Utica’s Cinderella Field and will feature separate enclosures for large and small dogs.

The combined projects are expected to cost nearly $1 million and construction of the parks is expected to begin soon and be complete by the end of the fall. Both projects are a result of the Utica Prosperity Initiative’s emphasis on providing a healthier, more diverse park system and are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Councilman Betrus spearheaded the formation of the North Utica Dog Park with his district’s share of $200,000, an amount allocated to each councilperson’s district. The announced improvement at T.R. Proctor Park is in conjunction with several new amenities designed to make the park one of the premier outdoor destinations in the city and the region. The City of Utica has also announced that lighting and surfacing will be added to increase parking capacity at the portions of the park along Welsh Bush Road to accommodate more park visitors.

Mayor Palmieri said: “Utica is blessed with the third largest park system in the State of New York. We have an obligation to continue to make it the best it can be. We learned during the Covid-19 pandemic that to sustain a healthy and vibrant city, we need to make sure all of our residents find parks that meet their needs – including our four-legged residents. These new dog parks are the next step in our goal to make Utica the best little city in the world.”