Dog park coming to North Hempstead

Four-legged residents in the Town of North Hempstead may soon have a place to roam free.

The town board voted last week to accept a donation from The Shelter Connection to purchase toys for a small pilot dog park in Michael J. Tully Park.

The leash-free zone in New Hyde Park will be the first town-owned park to set aside a spot for dogs to roam free. Success could lead to other locations.

“If people support it and it doesn’t cause any problems, we’ll look to do it elsewhere,” Supervisor Jon Kaiman said.

The Shelter Connection is a volunteer organization that works out of the North Hempstead Animal Shelter in Port Washington to support shelter improvement programs and improve the quality of life for homeless dogs.

The $5,258 donation will cover the costs of tunnels, hoops and other toys at the shelter and the proposed park. Robert Slifkin, president of The Shelter Connection, said the donation was a way to give back to the community and provide a space for dog-lovers to recreate with their pets.

The town could not provide details about the size of the park or its opening date.