With Coindre Hall’s breathtaking views of Huntington Harbor as a background, Suffolk County Executive Robert Gaffney signed a bill creating Suffolk County’s first two legal dog runs at Coindre Hall and West Hills Park into law on Friday, June 27^th. Click here to see photos!  The county executive’s action marked the culmination of more than a year of tireless work by Leg. Jon Cooper and members of the Huntington Dog Owners Group to protect Coindre Hall as a dog park. Last fall members of the Suffolk County Legislature, led by the chairwoman of the Parks Committee, vowed to close down Coindre Hall and threatened to ban dogs from county parks altogether!

      But,after months of lobbying, letter writing and public testimony by thousands of Suffolk dog owners, the County Legislature on May 13^th passed Jon Cooper’s bill creating dog parks at Coindre Hall and West Hills Park by an overwhelming 16-2 vote.   In a sign of the newfound political support for dog parks at the local level, the bill signing ceremony was attended by almost the entire Huntington Town Board led by Supervisor Frank Petrone. The town has agreed to build the fencing, run a water line, and collect the trash from the dog park at Coindre Hall.    “This has been a very tough battle,” said H-DOG spokesperson Barbara Buscareno. “Finally, Suffolk County is joining the 1,500 other municipalities across the country who have seen the benefits of providing dog owners with safe and legal places to exercise their dogs. We never could have done this without Jon Cooper.”

Leg. Cooper is now involved in a tough battle for re-election against the chief legislative aide to Allan Binder who was one of only two legislators who voted against creating the dog parks at Coindre Hall and West Hills Park. 

       Dan Gerrish, who also spoke for H-DOG’s supporters, told the assembled crowd of dog owners and press how gratifying it was to see the town and county work so effectively together to satisfy the urgent needs of dog owners throughout Huntington and Long Island. “The primary beneficiaries are our dogs who finally have a place to romp, play and socialize,” he said. “We all win!”   Then, Leg. Cooper summed up the main reason all of us have been fighting so hard for dog parks in general and Coindre Hall in specific. “Dogs are social animals that offer us unconditional love, companionship and protection,” he noted. “It’s important we repay these special family members with safe, carefree places to exercise and socialize.”

 We couldn’t have said it better, Jon! Thank you!