November 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 25

ing a broad base of engaged and committed sponsors mitigates
the risks of people moving out of town, a lack of community
volunteer work support and waning interest over time. According to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, the most
successful dog spaces are managed by a board of directors and
have a minimum of 10 volunteers who are willing to assist with
maintenance, fundraising and volunteer recruiting.
Once a sponsor is secured, it is critical to outline the roles and
responsibilities between them and the city park department to
manage expectations. These roles and responsibilities will serve
as a reference point if the park becomes a liability for the community. Not every owner will be responsible and clean up after
his or her dog. Over time, the dog run will exhibit wear and
tear. It is important to outline how often sponsors are required
to review the facility's state, how to communicate issues within
the community and how to resolve issues.
Considerations for Planning and
Maintaining an Urban Dog Space
Urban neighborhoods are trending toward adding more dog
spaces. Research from the Trust for Public Land notes that offleash dog spaces are sprouting in larger cities at a faster rate than
other park types. Also, as the rate of dog ownership increases,
city space for four-legged " children " to roam freely and tire out
increases in demand. However, if residents seek to maintain existing amenities, such as playgrounds and blacktops, can city
planners incorporate a dog space in a manner that allows all
stakeholders to coexist?
Such limited space forces city and park planners to think
strategically and to be creative with land allocation. Hosting
temporary pop-up dog spaces offers park planners the flexibility
to introduce dog spaces in neighborhoods. In addition to cityowned parkland, city and park planners may shift their attention to underutilized alleys or rooftops that can be developed
into a dog space.
Something else to consider is that many apartment buildings
in cities now offer amenities, such as a space for dogs to run and
exercise. So, are there sufficient private dog spaces that minimize the neighborhood's need for a public dog space? Are there
opportunities to engage in partnerships with private dog spaces
to allocate public spaces for other recreational activities?
In answering these questions throughout the park planning
process, the development of public space for either a dog run or
other amenities can be a positive experience for all community
stakeholders!

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Parks & Recreation

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November 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2018 - Parks & Recreation
