About
Incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) corporation, awarded tax-exempt status as a public charity by the US Internal Revenue Service in February 2012, and based in the District’s 5th Ward, the Langdon Dog Park Association (LDPA) is a membership group serving as the managing body of a fenced, off-leash dog run that was financed and built by the District government’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and which opened in August 2011. As that managing body, LDPA is organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.
Langdon Park is one of the largest parks in the entire District. Members of the Association would aver that it is a rare block in our neighborhoods that does not have numerous dogs kept as pets. The Dog Park provides a convenient and accessible place for these many dog-owning neighbors to meet, build relationships, and strengthen their communities. Furthermore, the Association aids in the prevention of cruelty to animals by providing a safe, convenient, and regulated space where dog owners may take their dogs and learn more about how to be good owners. It is widely accepted that relationships between dogs and their owners work best when the animals are allowed sufficient exercise. In an urban area, dog owners often find that personal or community residential space is not accommodating enough or appropriate to adequately exercise animals. The Langdon Dog Park itself provides ample space for exercising and socializing dogs. The Association’s members are committed to good dog ownership, and thereby provide a model for others who have not yet made that commitment. The Directors of the Association seek to develop programs to be held in the Park that will create opportunities for community members to become better dog owners.
The Association is an all-volunteer organization, having no paid staff or board members. Funding is provided by member contributions and donations from the general public.