Valley Stream opens its first dog park

With all the new scents at the grand opening of Valley Stream's first dog park, it was a race to mark territory.

On Saturday, dozens of dogs yipped, sniffed and stretched their legs in the village's brand-new dog run, celebrated by area veterinarians, dog trainers, groomers and shelters.

Friends of Valley Stream Dogs chairman Richard Infield called it a small oasis in the dog park "desert" of Nassau County. Most local parks don't allow pets, even on leash.

"When I first got a dog here about four or five years ago, I had nowhere really to exercise the dog," Infield said. "Dogs need exercise."

His group's push to get a dog park in Valley Stream started in August. The village pitched in between $30,000 and $40,000 to build the fenced park near the railroad tracks at Village Green Park.

"The village put in a lot of effort, a lot of time; they threw a lot of resources at it. They came up with a lot of ideas and actually acted on them," Infield said, adding that the Valley Stream Troop 369 Boy Scouts raised several thousand dollars for the park as well and helped build many of its features, including a gazebo for pet owners.

As they got used to the rocky terrain -- the ground is covered with smooth pebbles to help urine drain -- dogs of all breeds romped around the rectangular run and sniffed out the obstacles, including a ramp and fake fire hydrants.

Alexa Woluewich, 9, of Valley Stream, watched Cooper, her year-old Brittany spaniel, test out the ramp.

She said she's excited that Cooper now has a place to run free. "It's really good, because my dog is a high-energy dog and here he can just run."

There is a fee to access the dog park and owners must be Valley Stream residents or live in the Valley Stream Central High School District. Infield, who has two beagles, said the hope is that the park eventually will be even more accessible.

The park will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be managed by the village parks and recreation department.

Infield said his group hopes to create more areas like this for dogs and their owners in Nassau; another dog park is set to open in Massapequa Park in two weeks.

"A good dog is a tired dog," Infield said. "You can't be tired sitting around watching a TV all day."