The private Open Space Foundation coordinated the development of this 2.5 acre dog park through volunteers and money donated by the Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort.  CARE once intended to build an animal shelter on the property but failed to raise the estimated $1 million, so organizers donated money for the park on the condition it be named after Dr. Joe Cortese, a beloved San Juan Capistrano veterinarian who died in 2008.  This beloved dog park on the city’s Northwest Open Space on Camino Capistrano has fenced areas for small and large dogs, as well as a parking area, wheelchair-accessible entry and benches and picnic tables.  Joe Cortese’s wife, Goldee Cortese, extended a humble thank you at the ribbon-cutting ceremony by saying “Joe, although you’re gone, this event makes it obvious that you are still loved and certainly not forgotten, please watch over our dogs until the time comes when we can see you once again at the Rainbow Bridge.”

J&M contributed to the success of this park by constructing a meandering concrete sidewalk, custom, cast-in-place concrete horse water troughs, banding, and pervious ADA parking stalls.