How To Start a Dog Park in Your Neighborhood

A dog park, like any community park, is a great addition to any neighborhood because it raises real estate values and gives your community a place to engage and meet with each other. After the pandemic has ended, everyone will be eager to get back outside and socialize, so give them a fun and safe place to do it. Here’s how to start a dog park in your neighborhood.

Evaluate Community Interest

The first step is to make sure that a dog park is right for your community. Reach out to your fellow residents and get a feel for how much they like the idea of a dog park in the neighborhood. You don’t want to build one if you have very few dog owners, but after this pandemic, you best believe dog owners will be interested in having a place to let their dog run free and get some exercise. Finding out how interested the community is can also help you determine how much space and budget to request in your proposal.

Zone a Suitable Location

The next step in how to start a dog park in your neighborhood involves finding a good location for it. The ideal dog park will be easily accessible to all residents but won’t interfere with the day-to-day of your neighborhood’s business. The site doesn’t have to be perfectly flat, either. If there’s a plot of land that has been unusable due to slopes or rough terrain, consider how your dogs might enjoy playing on it.

Designing Fencing and Entrances

The two most basic but essential structures for your dog park are the fencing and the entrance into the dog park. Fences should be at least five feet high so that dogs can’t jump over them, and you’ll need to situate your entrance area away from corners. Dogs are excitable, so when they see a new dog, they often charge right for it. If your entrance is in a corner, dogs entering the park may be cornered and overwhelmed. Additionally, consider making your entrance a double gate system. A buffer and some much-needed breathing space will make entering and exiting the park much more manageable.

Dog Park Surfaces

Despite what you would assume, grass is not the best surface for dog parks. With lots of dogs running and playing and tearing up the grass, you’ll end up with mostly bare dirt. Then, as soon as it rains, that dirt will become a gross, muddy mess. Instead, use surfacing such as decomposed granite or sand. These are not only less expensive but require very little maintenance and upkeep.