We, the citizens of South West Center City, Newbold, and Point Breeze, and the members of the South of South Dog Owners Group, respectfully petition the City of Philadelphia to designate a portion of Chew Park (located at 1800 Washington Ave.) as an off-leash dog park, to be funded and maintained in whole or in part by the South of South Dog Owners Group (an incorporated Pennsylvania non-profit organization).

As compared to other parts of the city, dog-friendly green space is sorely lacking in our neighborhood because the majority of publically accessible green space has been designated “dog free.” Adding a designated dog-friendly space in Chew Park will cure this problem and:

· promote economic development in the area, by encouraging dog owners to spend more leisure time and money in the neighborhood;

· improve public safety, by encouraging more foot traffic in and around Chew Park, especially in the evenings and on weekends; and

· promote responsible dog-ownership, by providing a legal and neighbor-maintained place for local dog owners to take their pets for exercise and socialization.

Respectfully,