A Brief History of the Madison Dog Park
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Madison Community Canine Area (aka, Madison Dog Park), we thought park users would enjoy learning about how the Park came to occupy its current location and the brave men and women who made it happen. Many users may not know that the Park was established at its current location only after a prolonged and sometimes contentious process, after it was determined that its former location sat on a Civil War historic site.
It all started in 1983, when Arlington County first mandated that dogs had to be secured by leash when not within the property limits of their owners. Around the same time, the County designated a “dog exercise area” about 150 yards northwest of the Park’s current site that happened to be within Fort Ethan Allen Park. The County installed temporary fencing and the site became popular as dogs enjoyed playing in the safety of an enclosed space and their guardians socialized with one another.
The dog park remained this way for more than 15 years until, in early 2000, when the County installed “permanent” chain link fencing. Regardless of whether that was the “last straw,” soon thereafter, a coalition of groups (including the Heritage Alliance, the County’s Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), and the Old Glebe Civic Association) banded together to seek to remove the dog park from its existing location because it was on a historic Civil War site. (In fact, a few remnants of the Fort Ethan Allen complex still remain, such as munitions magazine embankments.)
In response to that effort, dog park users formed their own coalition for fear that the park might be closed for good or moved to a less desirable location. In addition to dog park users, led by Karen Hansen, this alliance included Arlington Dogs (an advocacy group for dog parks and their users), nearby homeowners’ associations and, ironically, some members of the Old Glebe Civic Association. Judy Green, Suzanne Bolton and other Arlington Dogs members provided crucial guidance and support, together with Jeanie Wilton of Chain Bridge Forest. The debates, meetings, discussions, and disagreements that followed have subsequently been described as “A battle lasting longer than the Civil War itself.”
It all started in 1983, when Arlington County first mandated that dogs had to be secured by leash when not within the property limits of their owners. Around the same time, the County designated a “dog exercise area” about 150 yards northwest of the Park’s current site that happened to be within Fort Ethan Allen Park. The County installed temporary fencing and the site became popular as dogs enjoyed playing in the safety of an enclosed space and their guardians socialized with one another.
The dog park remained this way for more than 15 years until, in early 2000, when the County installed “permanent” chain link fencing. Regardless of whether that was the “last straw,” soon thereafter, a coalition of groups (including the Heritage Alliance, the County’s Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), and the Old Glebe Civic Association) banded together to seek to remove the dog park from its existing location because it was on a historic Civil War site. (In fact, a few remnants of the Fort Ethan Allen complex still remain, such as munitions magazine embankments.)
In response to that effort, dog park users formed their own coalition for fear that the park might be closed for good or moved to a less desirable location. In addition to dog park users, led by Karen Hansen, this alliance included Arlington Dogs (an advocacy group for dog parks and their users), nearby homeowners’ associations and, ironically, some members of the Old Glebe Civic Association. Judy Green, Suzanne Bolton and other Arlington Dogs members provided crucial guidance and support, together with Jeanie Wilton of Chain Bridge Forest. The debates, meetings, discussions, and disagreements that followed have subsequently been described as “A battle lasting longer than the Civil War itself.”
Old dog park located on
Old Glebe Road
Key Dates:
- From around March 2000-July 2001, a working group of interested parties began meeting periodically under the auspices of the County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (DPRCR), but were unable to agree on a location for a new dog park.
- In 2001, leadership of Madison Dogs passed to Maureen Farrell, who marshaled others and mounted a determined and ultimately successful campaign to see that there would be a dog park reasonably near the original location.
- During 2002-03, stakeholders presented petitions and met with County Board members and park department officials but, still, no new site was agreed upon.
- In January 2004, a County Task Force led by Peter Fallon began to review 32 potential sites for a new dog park within 1.5 miles of the existing location. Six months later, the Task Force recommended (nearly unanimously) the current Madison Dog Park site to the County Board, and the Board approved that recommendation. Certain parts of the Fort Ethan Allen complex, including the former dog park area, became listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the County encompassed those areas into a “Historic District” for inclusion in the Virginia Civil War Trails program.
- In September 2005, the construction contract for the new dog park was awarded after an archeological survey confirmed that the new location was not on a site of “historical importance” and outside of the designated Historic District. To address the concerns of nearby residents, the County set aside a “buffer zone” running parallel to Military Road to mitigate noise and other potential disturbances emanating from the new park.
- On Saturday, June 17, 2006, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to open the new Madison Dog Park at its current location. Except for a new year-round water fountain, the park’s layout and structures remains exactly as it was ten years ago. From 2006-09, Mary McMichael served as the president of Madison Dogs.
- In 2009, a group of dog park user volunteers formed the Madison CCA Sponsor Group (SG) to coordinate with the DPRCR to maintain and improve park facilities, educate park users, and maintain an orderly park environment. Since 2009, Cinda Berry has led the active SG as Chairperson.
- In March 2014, the County celebrated the opening of a new Civil War historical interpretive exhibition and self-guided tour at Fort Ethan Allen Park.
Current dog park on
North Stafford Street
The SG - - and all park users - - sincerely appreciate the support of the County Board and Mr. Lyndell Core, Parks Service Area Manager, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
