6 Establishing a Dog Park develop a beautiful, well-maintained space open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park’s rules and restrictions. To view this park as a community project, in partnership with the City of Redwood City, designed to satisfy the needs of dog-owners and non–dog owners alike.” Choose a site. The ideal area will be a safe, accessible location that takes into account the needs of park users as well as the effect the park will have on neighbors and the environment. Please refer to “Dog Park Design” on page 15 for additional recommendations. Create a budget. Determine how much it will cost to construct and maintain the park – costs for grass, fences, garbage removal, lawn maintenance, drinking water, field drainage, lighting, benches, and a pooper-scooper station. Some cities are willing and able to finance a dog park; others would rather share the cost with a group committed to maintaining the park and ensuring that park rules are followed. Keep in mind that, if it is within your budget to do so, Monmouth County, New Jersey In the summer of 1999, a newly organized group of Monmouth County dog owners petitioned the county park system and several local municipalities to establish an off-leash dog park. The Bay Shore Companion Dog Club and New Jersey D. O. G. (Dog Owners Group) helped recruit members and collect signatures from owners of the nearly 40,000 licensed dogs living in the county. After collecting 12,000 signatures, the group presented its proposal to the county park system’s Board of Recreation Commissioners and municipal park system officials. Officials agreed that a dog park would offer many benefits to residents. They talked to other counties with successful parks about liability issues, rules, and regulations, before voting to approve funding for the establishment of an off-leash area in Monmouth County. The Thompson Park Dog Run opened on October 30, 1999, to enormous popularity. Now that the park has opened, area dog owners will concentrate on forming a core group to help keep up the site and prevent potential problems. Just because dogs are allowed to run free does not mean that owners will not be responsible for their animals’ actions. There are rules to be followed, guidelines to be maintained. “Public education for dog owners will be critical to the park’s success,” notes one of the organizers. The park itself provides a terrific venue for teaching people to be responsible dog owners. Members of the local dog community have already held a “Park Do’s and Don’ts” seminar and plan to host future programs there. SUCCESS STORY #1
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