Formerly known as the Oneida Dog Run, the Van Cortlandt Park dog run in the Woodlawn section of The Bronx was formerly renamed in honor of the late community advocate who championed its creation, Kathleen Duffy Corrigan on Monday, July 13.

 

Gathered for the occasion were friends, family and neighbors of Duffy Corrigan, elected officials including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), Bronx Parks Commissioner Jessenia Aponte, members of Bronx Community Board 12, members of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and former Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez. 

 

At the event, Aponte said, “We’re here today to celebrate a name, but really, we’re here to celebrate a person. Kathleen Duffy Corrigan spent decades as a neighbor, an advocate, and a friend to this community, and this dog run exists in large part because she believed Woodlawn deserved it. Kathleen was an advocate for the dogs in the community, as well as the people in the community. She pushed for the construction of the permanent dog run in Woodlawn.”

The commissioner continued, “Kathleen’s story is one we see again and again across this city: a resident who saw something missing in her neighborhood and did the work to bring it to life. Kathleen and her late husband (d.2021) moved to Woodlawn in 1970 and remained a resident until she lost her battle with cancer on December 1st, 2022. The kind of commitment Kathleen brought to Woodlawn doesn’t always come with recognition, and it’s a privilege for us to be able to officially give her the thanks she deserves today.”

 

She added, “Moments like this are also a good reminder of how important Van Cortlandt Park is as a public space. Our teams remain hard at work across the park, from reconstructing playgrounds so that local kids have safe, modern spaces to play to performing the everyday maintenance that keeps this park the jewel of The Bronx.”

 

Aponte concluded, “That work doesn’t happen without community members like Kathleen who speak up for what their neighborhood needs….and we remain committed to being a partner to Woodlawn every step of the way. Going forward, every dog and every owner who walks through this space will do so under Kathleen’s name, and I hope that name serves as a reminder of what one dedicated community member can accomplish.”

 

Gibson later said in part, “A new space for our four-legged Bronxites is officially open! We were proud to join NYC Parks, community leaders, and local residents for the ribbon cutting of the Kathleen Duffy Corrigan Dog Run at Van Cortlandt Park. This beautiful new dog run provides a safe, welcoming place for dogs to play, exercise, and socialize and is named after a beloved Woodlawn advocate who was a driving force behind the dog run’s creation. Thank you to everyone whose dedication and advocacy helped make this project a reality.”

“Kathleen Corrigan was one of Woodlawn’s fiercest community leaders, especially when it came to the Oneida Dog Run,” said the assemblyman in part. “It seems fitting now that @NYCParks has renamed the park in recognition of her tireless efforts. Thank you CB12 @vcpalliance & Parks for such a wonderful dedication!”

 

According to NYC Parks, the unveiling honored “the longtime Woodlawn community member and advocate whose efforts were instrumental in bringing the dog run to fruition.”

 

Dog lovers are invited to take part in a Paws & Wellness Resource Fair in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Thursday, July 30, at noon. Details attached above.