Create a destination park that includes pets
By Tiphanie Howard
Photo Credit: Ben Mann, City Engineer
With more pet owners looking for activities to do with their entire family (Fido included), the staff from the Fairfield Parks and Recreation Department in Ohio began a quest to offer an all-inclusive and fun park experience. To achieve this goal, we envisioned a place for families and dogs to visit that no other park in the region could offer, a space that would include a “natural” obstacle course, swimming, and socialization, as well as allow dog owners to socially bond with neighbors. A place that would offer a sense of community between the two other parks situated less than two miles from each other (Waterworks Park and Marsh Lake), and a regional trail system planned to connect these parks. This combination created FurField Dog Park, a multi-use park and future trailhead.
Purposeful Planning
The park was developed on city property purchased nearly two decades earlier, next to a lake owned by the local gravel quarry. The intention was to utilize the natural surroundings to create a signature park like no other in the region. The final space is a serene setting that gives visitors a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the main Fairfield business corridor on Route 4, a mere 6 miles away. The design focused on a centralized concept that emphasized gathering spaces and interaction between park users.
The features of the 7-acre park include four off-leash areas, including a field for small dogs only (under 25 pounds), a field that is mostly wooded, a field that will allow rotation for turf recovery, and the main field, which has a large concrete area around a concrete pond. The main field includes an 110,000-gallon pond with a dock, limestone steps, bubbler fountain/man-made stream, and zero-entry, exposed concrete aggregate edge. The water feature is the key element to the park, allowing for interaction between the dogs and their owners.