Photo Credit: Courtesy of Five Cities Dog Park Association and Rain-Drop
Dog owners faced with leash laws and looking for a safe place to let their dogs run and play off-leash may be scouting that seldom-used grassy spot in the park as the perfect stretch of land. But what constitutes a successful dog park, and how can you create one?
Partner Power
Most dog parks are a partnership between the government agency that owns and manages the land and local dog owners’ associations or friends-of-parks groups. “We encourage park managers to develop partnerships with dog clubs and nonprofit groups, such as the Lions Club,” says Lisa Peterson, spokesperson with the American Kennel Club, a nonprofit pure-breed dog registry and the governing body that oversees more than 20,000 events annually for 17 different dog sports. “These partnerships develop goodwill in the community, and help the park manager meet budgetary needs.”
At the beginning stages of developing a dog park, involve dog owners and dog-club members by asking them for suggestions on what would make a great dog park. Invest the time to take a day trip or two to other dog parks and see what works and what doesn’t. Also, call around to other dog parks and ask the dog park managers what they would do differently from before. Keep in mind budgeting for fencing, gates, concrete pathways and concrete pads around water sources, refuse containers and waste removal, shade structures and plantings, benches and regular mowing.