The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park

BARK ON PARK is throwing a party for Riverside Avondale’s furry friends

·         Join us on April 10th, 2014 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm as we mix and mingle with fellow dog lovers and raise money and awareness for The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

·         This 2-acre dog park will be free and open to the public and will feature a small dog area under shaded old tree growth and a large dog area under the shade of the I-95 overpass.

·         Complimentary beer, wine and small bites will be served. Due to space restrictions, this event is for owners only — we will have plenty of play time for pups once the park is constructed!

The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park 

Riverside Avondale Preservation has been working very hard behind the scenes to bring you the Riverside Dog Park. After months of negotiating with the Florida Department of Transportation, the City of Jacksonville, and other parties, we felt comfortable moving forward with an engineering contract.

And we have good news — the engineering specifications and final plans are now complete! We have submitted the plans for review with various departments at the City of Jacksonville, including the Historic Commission.

Once these approvals are in place, we will launch a fundraising campaign — and we could use your help to make the approximately 2-acre, off-leash Riverside Dog Park a reality. Please consider making a donation, buying a brick to be placed at the park entrance, or asking your employer to make a contribution by sponsoring a piece of park equipment.

If all goes as planned, we hope to have funding, political support and necessary land leases completed in Spring 2014. Construction is expected to take up to two months so we could have a Dog Park by the summer! 

Key Features of the Riverside Dog Park:

• One-and-a-quarter acre large/active-breed area. The active area will feature decomposed granite ground cover, an eighth of a mile walking path and a shade pavilion.
• Quarter-acre small/passive-breed area featuring significant old-growth tree coverage and bench seating.
• Ample on-street parallel parking will be created along with one dedicated handicapped-accessible parking space, adjacent to the existing JEA substation.
• Double-gated entries for both pet areas.
• A new sidewalk that will connect Park and College Streets – serving as a neighborhood connector.
• Dog Park will extend north to Annie Lyttle School property line, hopefully renewing interest in the rehabilitation of this historic building.

Weavers Pose $50,000 Dog Park Match

·         Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, owners of The John Gorrie a condominium, have partnered with Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) to offer the community an exceptional opportunity: A $50,000 match.

·         The match coincides with the fundraising campaign for the new dog park and gives those who choose to donate a substantial incentive. If collectively they raise $50,000, the John Gorrie Investment Group will match it. The new dog park will be known as The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park.

How You Can Help

• Purchase a paver to be placed at the Dog Park entrance HERE
• Encourage your company to inquire about Corporate Sponsorship. Companies will receive permanent name recognition at the Dog Park entrance or on certain features within the park itself. Contact carmen@riversideavondale.org for more regarding corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• Donate to the park . Every donation, large or small, makes a difference towards us reaching our goal.

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