Originally posted April 8, 2012

Last year's storms took a big toll on our park. Tompkins Square dog run volunteers celebrate spring by planting 5 new trees in the dog park.

2 large "October Glory" Maples will go in the front entrance and back tree pit. They will provide large, round, shade canopies and turn bright red in the fall. A giant Tulip Poplar is planted by the back entrance to provide more shade along with 2 flowering, Kwanzan Cherries that will blossom pink every spring.

The trees were purchased from Keil Brothers in Queens from donations by dog park users. If you'd like to provide a donation for the trees and our run's annual maintenance, please click on the link below.

Hurricane Irene toppled many trees in the park

Dallas (Rascal) and Rick (Nimbus) begin removing the old stumps.

Charlie (Benjamin) and Nimbus prepare to move 2 truck loads of new dirt into the gardens

Day 2: Jack (Savanah) still shoveling fresh dirt into the tree pits

Deb Holz, Tompkins' gardner, accepts the delivery of our new trees

Two Kwanzan Cherries and a giant Tulip Poplar are planted in the largest tree pit

Andrea (Misha) begins watering the new trees

Originally posted September 10, 2010

Every few years our run requires a new shipment of sand (called stabilized, stone screenings) to replenish the park's surface. Your donations pays for the sand, materials, and upkeep of the dog run.

The job started in late fall when volunteers (above) began installing additional base baords around the run and then 50 tons of new sand arrives — The job started in late fall when volunteers (above) began installing additional base baords around the run and then 50 tons of new sand arrives

And then 50 tons of new sand arrives — And then 50 tons of new sand arrives

Tompkins Square's new manager Duval Drumond (left) shakes hands with District Manager Mike McLean (center), and retiring manager Harry Greenberg (right)

Day 2: The Parks Dept. sends a crew but they are unable to spread the material throughout the entire park by hand

Day 3 & 4: To keep the project moving, volunteers spend their weekend spreading the stone screenings throughout the small dog run

Day 6: Finally the tractor arrives to grade the large run. (Day 5 was spent wrangling officials to get aforementioned tractor)

Volunteers move the benches and spread the screenings where the tractor can't reach

Day 7 - 8: The new sand is washed for 24 hours to activate the stabilizer, followed by another day to let the material harden. And finally on Day 9 our run re-opens