This year we finally got the OK to install K9 Grass in the small dog run — this is a specially formulated turf just for dogs. The entire project was privately funded and gifted to the community by the “Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade”

Garrett Rosso, Bradley Romaker from NYC Parks Dept & Susan Alexander, the contractor for Tech Grass, start the installation

Cobblestones and benches are removed from the old run

The team excavates the old stone and sand

Forms are created for concrete pads beneath the benches to prevent dogs from digging and easy cleaning

The concrete is leveled, tinted and smoothed

An additional 6 inches of stone is added to create better drainage throughout the run

Zeolite is buffed into the grass for odor control

Originally posted October 7, 2013

All that sands that gets scooped away with the poop needs to be replenished. Volunteers work over the weekend to install 60 tons of new stand purchased with park users donations prior to our annual Halloween Parade. The stone from Plymouth Quarry in Pennsylvania was selected after a year long search to find a less dusty alternative for the run.

60 tons of Plymouth Brown washed sand arrives and is piled outside the dog park

The bobcat and operator hired by Friends of First Run from park user donations begins moving the new stone into the service gate

Courtney (Edgar) directs the crew where to dump the sand

Courtney and Garrett (Java, Kai & Gabriel) begin spreading the sand in the small dog run

Darren (Scrappy & Tokyo) and Greg (Brody & Boots) help shovel the sand over the fence

We use a tractor to grade and spread the sand in the large dog run

But the small run must be graded by hand

Finally the job is finished. The stone will be watered with sprinklers overnight and then allowed to harden in the sun for a day before the run is reopened