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Proposal for a Dog Park in Windsor
Presented to the Town Council Aug 6th, 2007

Mission Statement:
We are a group of Windsor residents that would like to work with our town to create an enclosed area where dogs can play off leash.
We would like to help educate the public on responsible dog ownership.
We would like to strengthen our town’s sense of community by providing an area for gathering and recreation.

What is a dog park?:
A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs and their owners to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment. Parks vary in styles but a typical dog park is fenced, has separate double-gated entry and exit points and tools to pick up and dispose of animal waste. Often there are trees for shade and a hydrant system to provide water for drinking or cooling.

Benefits of a dog park:
Pet ownership is growing in leaps and bounds across the US and dog owners are increasingly including their pet into their activities. There are dog restaurants and bakeries springing up across the state. Most towns, including Windsor, have leash laws which restrict off leash activities. In 2006 Windsor alone had 3463 registered dogs. While some dogs are content with a stroll, others require a good run. The ball fields are often used for this purpose, but this is a concern for sanitary reasons and conflicts with the mixed use of the area. A dog park is a community center for dog owners to allow their pets to run freely in an enclosed, controlled environment, while also providing a social opportunity for the human part of the family. It also provides a social outlet for non pet owners who want to enjoy the antics of the dogs.

Location:
We would like to work with the town to find a space suitable for a dog park. While parks vary in size from less than ½ acre in crowded cities to 12 or more acres in rural locations, we think about 1 acre would be appropriate for Windsor. Conversations with Windsor residents have yielded many suggestions for a location. Some of these include River St, Northwest Park, Welch Park, Washington Park, land near the Dog Pound, Trent Park, the landfill, as well as others. An ideal location would be safe and well lit, not bothersome to neighbors, have adequate parking, and be accessible to elderly and handicapped residents. Many towns have found space for a dog park in already established recreation areas (such as Granby and Wethersfield).

Education:
In addition to posted signs advising responsible ownership (ie picking up after your dog), individuals in the park often provide education to one another. Some towns have also had professional dog trainers attend the park on a weekends to point out normal vs worrisome dog play, understanding dog signs, etc. We will also plan to model ourselves after other successful parks which provide tips and safety information on their website for people new to the experience.

Liability:
Dog parks are usually covered under the town’s insurance for regular park and recreation activities. In Connecticut a dog owner is liable for any damage done by his or her dog, regardless of on whose property the damage occurs.

Cost
The initial costs consist of site preparation, fencing, ground cover, water source, benches and poop bags and dispensers. In many towns fundraisers are held to cover these costs. In some towns, the town matches or donates money toward the effort. Maintenance of the park such as picking up trash generally falls to the parks and recreation dept. Replacing mulch or ground cover is provided by some towns. Fundraisers usually are held to cover the costs of poop bags and maintenance not provided by the town.

Common questions and concerns:

Enclosures: Most dog parks are surrounded by a fence system. The fences vary in height, but most often dogs are so excited to be in the park that they don't try to get out. A metal fence is the most practical and durable vs. wood, plastic or cement.

Ground cover: Bark mulch is a typical cover. The mulch needs to be replaced on a periodic basis due to erosion, cleanliness and disposal of portions of the mulch along with the dog waste. Some parks have grass, others small stones, and some have the man made playground materials.

Waste Patrol: A clean dog park is vital to its success and most parks have dog bags or scoopers so that each owner looks after their own dog. Most dog owners are good about noticing when their dog is going, but when they aren't there is usually someone who will remind them. When a dog's bathroom activity goes unnoticed, usually any of the attendees will pick up the waste so that their own dog won't run over it.

License: All dogs must have a valid license and a dog officer can fine or remove a dog who is not in compliance.

Big dogs/small dogs: Many parks have a small area for small or shy dogs. Often these areas are underutilized compared to the main area, but it is a strong consideration and has enough practical and psychological benefits to warrant one.

Toys: Some parks provide a bucket of balls and dog toys for use in the park and some also provide agility style equipment or have some small mounds and interesting topography for the dogs to stay busy.

Children: Parks often allow children but some discourage the presence of children under a certain age (eg. no children under 10 or 12 years old). Some of the considerations are that the dogs can run fast and knock over a small child. Children often go to pet or even tease a strange dog and that can be dangerous. Children sometimes want to play with the toys or agility equipment of the dogs.
Supervision: An adult must stay with his/her dog and not leave the park area without an adult in charge of their dog.

Hours of operation: Usually the dog park is open during the daylight hours, although some communities have lighting for nighttime use.

Wheelchair access: Some dog owners are in a wheel chair and the park should be able to accommodate the owner as well as the dog.

Benches/Picnic Tables: These are used by the humans and canines.

Food: All food and drink is discouraged. Pet food/treats could bring out food aggression in some dogs, although some owners need training treats initially for their dogs. Human food, if eaten by the dogs, could cause any number of problems. Hot drinks are discouraged due to spilling on a person or a dog. And glass bottles or containers are prohibited as they could break and injure a dog.

Smoking: Prohibited because of the smell and the burning material.

Shoes: Humans should wear footwear.

Rules: Each dog park park has its own rules and regulations, however there are some common ones that tend to be in place.