Monmouth Street between Broad Street and Drummond Place will be closed to automobile traffic one night a month from July through October for ‘Dog Days of Summer.’ (Click to enlarge)
A stretch of Red Bank’s Monmouth Street will become a pedestrian mall for four-legged visitors and their leash-holders on select nights starting in July, Mayor Pasquale Menna announced Wednesday night.
Following through on plans hinted at last month, Menna said an event dubbed ‘Dog Days of Summer’ would begin Tuesday, July 30 and repeat on the final Tuesday nights of August, September and October, concluding with a Halloween party of sorts for domesticated critters.
“This is a special themed event for pets that includes humans,” said Menna, owner of an 11-year-old white Labrador retriever named Bella.
Backing away from plans to include eateries after restaurateurs balked at the idea of having dogs and other pets on premises, Menna said the event called for a closure of Monmouth Street between Broad Street and Drummond Place, with dozens of supporting organizations present to hawk their wares and causes.
The ASPCA and Red Bank Veterinary Hospital are on board as sponsors, he said, and the borough clerk’s office would have representatives present to license resident dogs. Other sponsors are expected to offer pet food, pet massages and additional pet-oriented goods and services, he said.
“I think it’s a great community-building event,” he said. “I think it’s going to put us on the map.”
