Yesterday, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Clark Ray, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, hosted a "leash-cutting" ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Shaw Dog Park.  The Shaw Dog Park is the District's first off-leash public dog park.  It is located at the Shaw Recreation Center field, on the east side of the 1600 block of 11th Street, NW (between Q and R Streets, NW).

The 15,000 square foot dog park, which will allow dogs to run off leash behind fences, includes a separate dog run for smaller dogs under 25 pounds.  Bag dispensers for collection of dog waste and trash receptacles are on site.

This facility would not have become a reality without the personal involvement of both Mayor Fenty and Councilmember Evans.  I'd also like to recognize George Kassouf, founder of Dog Owners of Greater Shaw, for his years of engagement on this issue and his countless of hours of work on the citywide dog park initiative, as well as the many other DOGS members and the hundreds of community residents who supported this initiative.

On Thursday, November 6, at 6:00 pm, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will provide the public with an update on a roadway construction project along 11th Street from L to O Streets, NW.  The meeting will be held at the Asbury United Methodist Church, located at 926 Eleventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The improvements in this area include roadway reconstruction, sidewalks, street lighting, intersection and signal improvements, enhancements to traffic operations, pedestrian amenities, and safety improvements.

Thursday's briefing with residents and businesses in the area will provide an update on construction timing, phasing, and traffic management, as well as DDOT's plans for coordinating with utilities and private developments in the area.

For more information please contact the construction manager, Mr. Osman Mohamed; or DDOT's project engineer Mr. Michael Conley at (202) 671-4550.  The project's public outreach coordinator, Martha Kemp can be reached by e-mail at mkemp@volkert.com or by phone at (202) 237-6269.