Dog Park Discussion Continues

A group of citizens will meet Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m., at St. Timothy's Church to discuss a proposal to build a dog park at 4117 Mitchell St.

The land is currently owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, who said in June that they would agree to sell the 25,000 square foot lot to the Central Roxborough Civic Association for the park.

In order to develop any land it first needs the councilman’s support,” said Bennur Koksuz who is the redevelopment authority’s Director of Strategic Initiatives.  “Whatever the proposal, it needs to be completed in a certain amount of time, or it reverts back to the redevelopment authority.”

Koksuz also said at last month's meeting that responsibility for any park constructed on the lot would fall to the civic association.

“Parks and Recreation does not have the funds to take on more land,” Koksuz said.  “Someone has to cut the grass, shovel the snow and clean.”

Koksuz added that the land was valued at $400,000 two and a half years ago, but that the redevelopment authority would be willing to sell the land to the community at a nominal fee if a plan could be put in place.

“The RDA is not a profit making entity,” Koksuz said.  “If the dollars we would make is balanced out by something that’s good for the community, then the good balances out.”

St. Timothy's Church is located at 5720 Ridge Ave. in Philadelphia.