And Chewy Makes Five

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The Gables Expands Its Network of Dog Parks

Although Coral Gables has more than two dozen “pet-friendly” parks, where you can take your beast on a leash, it has long been short on fenced dog parks where Fido can run free. Until 2023, the only unleashed dog park was in Chapman Field Park – and occasionally at Catalonia Park (amid much controversy). The situation changed in 2023, when three fenced-in dog parks opened: one at 1505 Ponce, one at Villa Valencia, and one at Salvadore Park, which also has a full dog run.

Now comes Chewy Bark Park. It opened at the end of January with considerable fanfare at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and LeJeune Road, part of the new Underline system of parks. In partnership with the City of Coral Gables and dog product purveyor Chewy, Inc., the grand opening attracted more than 500 pet owners and their dogs.

The 17,000-square-foot space features cooling turf, areas for small and large dogs, hydration stations, and waste stations. During the opening, pop-up vendors, including Woof Gang Bakery and Playa Bowls, handed out complimentary treats for dogs, while the Coral Gables Fire Department demonstrated pet CPR.

“The opening of Chewy Bark Park is a proud moment for the city of Coral Gables and for pet parents across South Florida, where our Chewy story began and where our roots run deep,” said Orlena Yeung, chief brand officer of Chewy, at the opening. “This park… reflects the unique energy of life with pets in this city and is a way for us to show up for the community that continues to inspire us.”

Chewy Bark Park is part of Phase 3 of The Underline, an effort to transform underutilized land beneath the Metrorail into public space. Because it occupies space not adjacent to homes, there was little resistance to the park’s creation. The same cannot be said for the latest effort by dog owner and dog park promoter Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson. The vice mayor was the driving force behind the Salvadore dog park and is currently pushing for another at 520 University Drive, across from the War Memorial Youth Center.

The first step, says Anderson, is a neighborhood meeting “where residents can come in and look at the proposed design, and express their opinions.” After that, it comes back to the City Commission with a design, she says, “and then we move forward from that point.

The proposal began with a petition from residents who live in the surrounding area and beyond. While Coral Gables now has other dog-friendly parks, “there needs to be something closer for folks that live between Bird Road and Coral Way,” says Anderson.

The item first appeared on the Commission agenda in November, when Anderson introduced a resolution to develop the plan. Some nearby residents later voiced opposition, claiming they had not been contacted during the signature-gathering process, while others are staunch supporters. The proposed design includes a 25-foot landscaped, fenced buffer to separate it from adjacent properties.

Among other things, the fenced park would solve an existing concern in the area. “We currently have a problem with off-leash dogs running in those fields,” Anderson said. A fenced dog park would provide a designated space for that activity.