Answer:
You need to have rules posted. We opened ours up this fall of 2010. Dealing with aggressive dogs has been a
problem that citizens are bringing to us. It would be good up front to have the Police Dept and Animal Control to
come by the dog park – particularly on nice days on weekends and evening hours. People love it to death – in fact,
there has been as many as 75 dogs reported at one time. We have a small and a large dog park comprising of 3
acres. The bigger you build it, the better. We now know we need to build a dog park in each quadrant of our city.
– Fayetteville P&R
We have had no problems of significance with the three dog pens that are one acre each. If anything we get very
favorable comments on the dog park. It is rare that we receive a call complaining about the dog park. The few
complaints we do receive concern fencing repairs that the mowers have a tendency to get caught in and when bag
dispensers are are empty. – North Little Rock P&R
A few basics for dog parks that we have found works for us:
1) Try to find an interested group and form a committee first to determine needs, etc. and ultimately “ownership”
to help monitor the facility after it’s opened.
2) We do not allow non spayed or unneutered dogs in our dog park due to aggression issues. Up to 90% of dog
aggression in these environments has been attributed to this.
3) Dog parks should be located away from residences (dogs have a tendency to bark a lot in this environment).
4) Fence should be 5′ (4′ is too short, 6′ looks like a prison).
5) Construct fence with continuous bottom rails to prevent dog “escapes” as well as two gate “chutes” for entry
and exit.
6) The dogs will quickly eliminate most plant material other than mature trees, leaving only mud. The best surface
material we have identified is pea gravel. It doesn’t hurt the trees and does not rot or hold odors like mulch would.
7) The Park obviously needs a water source, but if you don’t start out telling patrons differently, people might soon
lug in large tubs and suddenly the water area will become a “dog water fun area”,with a lot of runoff. And a lot of
complaints about run off and ensuing muddy dogs, possibly from the same people who lugged in tubs…..in any
case definitely consider where water is going go after it leaves the hydrant as a site factor. We wound up coming
back and building a sort of “car wash” with a center drain and a pipe that carry’s water off site to deal with this
issue.
8) Be sure that trash cans for dog waste disposal are plentiful with bags for easy disposal and covered to protect
against rain filling them up, etc.
9) The dog park’s vehicle parking area should be well away from any roadway, and probably fenced also, as to
prevent loading/unloading dogs from running off and into traffic.- Little Rock P&R