Croton’s Black Rock Dog Park is getting a new bench, courtesy of a local restaurant, and could see extended weekend hours as the village explores ways to improve the popular off-leash area.

At its January 12 meeting, the Recreation Advisory Committee accepted an offer from Capriccio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant owner Mike Macchia to donate a bench inside the dog park. Committee member John Bouchard will coordinate with Macchia on costs and logistics, while chair Debi Braddick will notify the village of the committee’s approval.

The bench discussion came alongside an update from Karen Pecora and John Sasso, who recently attended a Village Board work session focused on Black Rock Park. Among the items discussed: extending weekend dog park hours from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., installing an automated external defibrillator (AED) using existing budget funds, and possibly allowing a limited number of non-village school district residents to use the dog park.

On the playground front, families waiting for the Dobbs Park replacement will be glad to hear that new equipment arrived on January 12. Bouchard said installation is scheduled to begin during the last week of January.

At Gouveia Park, the sewer line installation is complete, and the Department of Public Works is moving ahead with work on the driveway loop, lighting, and fencing. An architect has also delivered revised sketches for the Gouveia house, according to Nora Nicholson.

The committee reviewed the Recreation Department’s master fee schedule, making modest changes. Most camp fees will stay flat, though non-resident full season Day Camp and Tiny Tots Camp fees will increase slightly. Senior kayak and canoe winter storage fees will go up by $20. All other fees were left unchanged.

In other business, Nicholson raised the idea of assembling informational packets for Croton’s Spanish-speaking community. Mark Duncan noted that the recreation brochure is already available in Spanish on the village website and can be printed for distribution.

The committee’s next meeting is Monday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m.