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Dog Day
in the Afternoon

PHOTO BY ANNE MARSHALL

These happy dogs sprawl in the lush, manicured grass of the one-acre dog park near the Sun City Texas softball fields. The dog
park was the brainchild of Robin Pearlstein of Neighborhood 3.

The story of the first dog park in Sun City Texas

A %\0DXUHHQ*ULIÀQ when making housing decisions. City Pet Club. Club members would meet
decade ago, dog parks were an with their dogs at Legacy Hills Park and
amenity found in a few forward- In 2005, Robin and Marshall Pearlstein socialize. They consistently drew a large
thinking urban areas and even (N3) and their two dogs moved to Sun crowd, a fact not missed by the CA and
fewer senior communities. When they were City Texas from Houston, where they developer. She supplemented her request
available, the dog parks were usually no frequented a nearby dog park. Robin with photos of dog parks, including the
more than a grassy area with or without missed the opportunity to exercise her Sun City community in Palm Desert,
a fence. Today dog parks are ubiquitous dogs off leash and allow them to socialize California.
and an expected amenity in age 55-plus freely with other dogs. “Why didn’t Sun
communities, as well as trendy urban City have a dog park?” Robin wondered. Robin’s lobbying took several years, but
buildings targeting Millennials. Additional When the Community Association and in 2009, her unwavering determination
amenities such as splash pads, agility developer didn’t immediately embrace the led the developer to provide the land for a
courses, treadmills, day care and other idea, she realized that she would have to dog park, and the CA agreed to improve
on-site services (grooming, walkers, demonstrate the need in order to convince and maintain the park. The dog park sits
therapeutic massage, etc.) and secure dog them to make the capital investment. First, on approximately one acre on Sun City
parks on the top of high-rise buildings are she arranged for a survey to determine Boulevard in the same complex as the
QRORQJHUXQXVXDO:LWKGRJVÀOOLQJWKH how many dogs were in Sun City and VRIWEDOOÀHOGDQGKRUWLFXOWXUHJDUGHQV
roles of children and companions, residents whether the residents wanted a dog park. The well-shaded park is fenced around the
are considering the needs of their dogs Once she learned many residents had at perimeter and down the middle, so small
least one dog, Robin established the Sun dogs and large dogs can be separated for

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