METAIRIE, LA – Please join Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken, Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng, President Michael S. Yenni, and Jefferson Parish Officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Pontiff Dog Park, located at 1521 Palm Street in Metairie.
 
Council District 5, in coordination with the Department of Parks and Recreation, developed 25,000 square feet of under-utilized land at Wally Pontiff Jr. Playground into an off-leash dog park. The dog park has pet stations, a dog cool down area, benches, and drinking fountains for both dogs and humans. 
 
“Dog parks have become a popular and desired amenity in our park system. This newest addition to Pontiff Playground provides residents a clean, safe environment to exercise and socialize their dogs,” said Councilwoman At-Large Cynthia Lee-Sheng. Councilwoman Van Vrancken added, “I’m delighted to see what was once an unused portion of Pontiff Playground now transformed into a fun, social environment for our residents to enjoy with their furry family members.” 
 
Pontiff Dog Park opens daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk. In conjunction with the innovative water retention design of Pontiff Playground, the dog park boasts updated water management features, including a new irrigation system and additional catch basins to prevent mud and drain excess water efficiently.
 
Linfield Hunter & Junius, Inc. provided design and construction, and Benge Landscape, LLC completed the landscaping of the dog park. A dozen mature trees were preserved as part of the design. Funding for the $219,689.97 project was provided by Council District 5 and the Department of Parks & Recreation.