How to Start a Dog Park

The purpose of providing off-leash Dog Parks in public parks is to give every community a designated, safe area where they can take their dogs to exercise and socialize with other dogs and people. You will learn the key steps to help your community Dog Park become a reality.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Community Support
• Internet
• Dedication and Determinaton.

1. Dog Parks provide socializing and exercise. The first step is to research facts and statistics about Dog Parks. Learn as much as you can, before you put together a plan of attack. Winning over the people who can give your community a Dog Park is the biggest obstacle to achieve when gaining approval.
   
   The Internet has a wealth of Dog Park advocacy and advice. Many community organizations are willing to share their successes and advice to help others just starting out with the long process of persuading public parks department and public officials to allow for a dog park.
   
   In addition, the Internet is a good way to gather statistics about a community. Using Population, neighborhood, and licensed pets statistics can provide important information, and facts to determine the best location for a Dog Park based on the areas of a community, which have a large number of people and dogs. A great web site for researching poplulation in neighborhoods by zip codes is found at: http://www.hometownlocator.com
2. Talk to local public officials about an area for dogs in a community park. Talk to city officials about a Dog Park in one of your local community parks. Find out who is responsible for making decisions regarding the approval and construction of an off-leash dog exercise area in your city. Usually, a City or County Parks and Recreation Department can be a good place to send a dog park proposal with a few ideal locations in public parks, or spaces as a logical site location for the proposed Dog Park. Most Dog Park Organizations suggest narrowing it down to one location, but this isn't necessarily true.
   If only one location is suggested to public officials, and they turn it down, it's back to the drawing board. So, always have several key public spaces chosen for a Dog Park in your community. Be ready to explain why each site proposed is a good place for a Dog Park based on: how close it is to many neighborhoods, has adequate room for a parking lot, and doesn't interfere with other recreational activities if the site is located in a park.
3. Holding fundraising events with local businesses will help a Dog Park become a reality. Gathering and creating awareness for a Dog Park is the number one factor in creating a successul community Dog Park.
   Talking to people and businesses about a Dog Park will gather many supporters to the cause. The goal is to find a group of dedicated people to help with future fund raising events needed to raise money for the construction of a Dog Park.
   
   One very easy way to reach a lot of people quickly is to post comments in local on-line forums. Local on-line forums are very popular, and is a great way to let people know about a community Dog Park, and how they can help make it a reality.
   
   Another great way to gather community support and awareness about a Dog Park is to talk to local pet businesses, such as: pet photographers, pet groomers, pet stores, and Veterinarians to inform them that the community could benefit from a local Dog Park. They may be interested in helping support the Dog Park in a variety of ways.
   One great way to gain local business support is to team up with pet-related businesses by planning local pet events together.

Tips & Warnings

• Dog Parks provides the elderly and handicapped pet owners with an easily accessible place to bring their dogs for exercise.
• Dog Parks give people a place to meet new friends and socialize.
• Dog Parks contribute to the physical fitness of people and dogs by encouraging them to exercise and play together.
• Unleashed running and playing can elevate heart rate, increase metabolism, decrease dog Arthritis, and strengthen muscles and joints, all of which contribute to general overall fitness.
• Well exercised and socialized dogs are less likely to contribute to neighborhood nuisances like barking, or showing aggression towards other dogs and people.