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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.g. Dog Parks and Off Leash Areas EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Work Session: September 12, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Dog Parks and Off Leash Areas AGENDA SECTION: Discussion PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation Director AGENDA NO. 2.g. ATTACHMENTS: Aerial Photos, Informational Spreadsheet and Dog Park Rules APPROVED BY: ddj RECOMMENDED ACTION: None, discussion only. ISSUE One of the City Council Projects and Initiatives for their 2016-2017 goals is to open a dog park for small dogs along walking corridors. This topic of dog parks or off-leash areas was recently discussed with the Parks and Recreation Commission. Staff shared information from other local communities as to what they offer. There is a spreadsheet included in the packet that contains information on some other dog parks. There was thorough discussion on several topics relating to dogs parks including location, size, rules, what dogs will have access and if permits would be required. The Commission recommended that four park locations be considered for dog parks or off leash dog areas. The parks that they recommended we consider include Jaycee, Bloomfield, Twin Puddles and Connemara. At Jaycee and Bloomfield parks, they recommended we allow dogs to be off leash inside the existing hockey rinks with grass inside the boards. This is currently allowed in the City of Burnsville and has seemed to work well based on feedback provided by staff from Burnsville Parks and Recreation. At Connemara and Twin Puddles parks, the Commission recommended the addition of a fenced area for dogs to be off-leash. At Connemara Park there is a low spot in the west edge of the park that the Commission feels we should consider. At Twin Puddles Park the Commission recommended looking at some open space north of Dodd Road for a possible location. Placing a dog park near the Connemara water tower was discussed by the Commission and they felt there were some issues with that site. Being right next to residential lots and not having any parking at the site were two issues that were concerns. The Parks and Recreation Commission did feel that holding a neighborhood meeting might be in order once a location(s) is picked for dogs to be off-leash. The Commission does feel that there should not be a restriction on the size of the dogs that use the off- leash dog areas. If issues come up with mixing different size dogs, the Commission felt we could address the issues as needed. The Commission did discuss some of the general rules of dog parks and staff did share what other local dog parks are doing. Attached are the rules used in the City of Hastings. The Commission and staff both feel that a permit should not be required to use the off-leash dog area but that all dogs must have proof of licensing from the City. BACKGROUND A dog park is a park for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners. These parks have varying features, although they typically offer a 4' to 6' fence and separate double-gated entry and exit points. Off-leash dog areas, or dog parks, provide a community setting in which people can gather and socialize and where they can observe the interaction of groups of dogs at play. Dog parks allow owners and their dogs to spend time together and offer dogs a space for play and companionship with other dogs. Some dog parks have separate play spaces for large and small dogs. Others have one large area for dogs of all sizes. There is debate about this issue, as some argue that dogs should be segregated by size, while others feel that dogs of all sizes can and should socialize together. In any case, dog owners must make sure their dogs are well-socialized, and watch carefully so that they can intervene if their dog acts anti-socially towards other dogs or humans. SUMMARY Staff would like for the City Council to discuss the topic of dog parks and provide direction to staff as to how the City should move forward with this item. Connemara Park Twin Puddles Park Jaycee Park Bloomfield Park Dog Park Information Location of Park Acres Small or large dogs On-site amenities Use requirements Northfield 1.1 All dogs Fenced Grassy area Licensed animals South St. Paul 6.3 All dogs Fenced area Sun shelters Grassy area Permit/Pass required Hastings 2.5 for large dogs 1.8 for small dogs All dogs Fenced area Licensed animals Burnsville 7* All dogs Fenced area Pond Dog Wash Station Wooded area Mulch paths Grassy area Special Needs Dog area Optional membership pass Dakota County 16 All dogs Wooded and grassy areas Loop trails Permit/Pass is required Eagan 6 (30yd by 50yd space for small dogs) All dogs Grassy area Wooded area Permit/Pass is required * The City of Burnsville also allows dogs to go off leash in outdoor hockey rinks located in their neighborhood parks. Rules of conduct For the safety and enjoyment of all park visitors the following rules of conduct shall be in effect at all times. Use of the Rivertown Dog Park is at your own risk. Owners are responsible and liable for injury or damage inflicted by their dogs. • Park Hours: Daily 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. • Owners must immediately pick up their dog’s waste. Please dispose of the waste in the provided receptacles. • No more than three dogs are allowed per person and owners must carry a 6’ leash for each dog. • Aggressive dogs are not permitted. If your dog becomes unruly or plays rough, please leash it immediately. • Owners must keep unleashed dogs in sight, under voice control at all times. • Dogs must always be leashed outside of fenced dog park area including the parking lot. • Dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and be wearing up-to-date license tags at all times. • Remove prong and/or spike collars while in the dog park. • Female dogs in heat and puppies under the age of 4 months are not permitted. • Unattended dogs are not allowed at any time. • Do not allow dogs to dig; excessive barking is prohibited. • Young children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a responsible adult. Younger children must be close enough to hold hands with their responsible parent or supervising adult. • Eating is not permitted in the park. • Bicycles, skateboards and scooters are not permitted in the park. PLEASE NOTE: If you live within Hastings City Limits, your dog must be licensed and be wearing current tags to visit the park. Please see our Licenses page for more information. If you live outside of Hastings city limits or in another community, at a minimum your dog must be wearing current rabies vaccination tags. Please report any hazards or safety concerns to the Hastings Parks & Recreation Department 651-480-6175.