Photo Credit: Courtesy of Arlington Heights Park District
For anyone looking for the ingredients for a successful dog park, the answer is simple: Combine two park districts, add a splash of committed dog park enthusiasts, and fold in a location with potential. That’s exactly what the Arlington Heights Park District and the Mt. Prospect Park District did in Illinois, and the results were fantastic!
Location, Location, Location
The first order of business was to find a suitable location. While park officials visited nearby dog parks and potential areas, joint public meetings helped educate the community about the proposed park and solicit input from interested parties.
Ultimately, the Melas Park Sports Complex was selected because of its convenient location on the border of the two towns in the village of Mt. Prospect. Owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, Melas Park is a 35-acre regional park with synthetic-turf softball/baseball fields, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, and a playground. The specific location for the dog area was an undeveloped piece of land adjacent to parking, close to restrooms, and, most importantly, it did not border any residential housing. Additionally, the site already featured a number of large shade trees.
