SportsField Management June 2025 | Parks and Recreation

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Planning a dog park? Start here

By Mary Helen Sprecher

Several decades ago, the gotta-have amenity for housing developments, community associations and apartment and condominium complexes was the swimming pool. 

Fast forward to today, and priorities have shifted. Now, dog parks are in demand. According to the Trust for Public Land, since 2009 there was a whopping 40 percent increase in the number of dog parks being built nationwide. 

Just as with sports fields, dog park construction has changed in the intervening years, and nowhere has it changed more than in the surfaces used. 

If constructing a dog park with a natural grass surface, discuss the varieties that work best given the geographic area, soil type, climate and the amount of use expected. In general, the more resilient and durable the surface, the better off you’re going to be. Bermudagrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Zoysia and fescue grass are all options because of their resilience to foot traffic. If the park is large enough, the grass may stay in good condition despite regular use; smaller parks, however, may need to be rested in order to let the surface rebound.

Photo by Tatiana Rodriguez on Unsplash

 

According to Lee Narozanick of American Athletic Track and Turf, although regular maintenance of the surface, including mowing (2- to 4-inch cut height), will keep it in good repair, “the grass should not be cut too short because it gets trampled and dies and then the area becomes muddy. Letting the grass grow longer than you are accustomed to, at least in terms of a sports field, will actually allow it to stand up to everyday activity much better.”

Additional landscaping within a dog park will depend upon the size of the park and the amount of usage. We’re seeing some with trails — generally covered with mulch or crusher run. Higher grasses — such as native grasses and prairie grasses — have a nice aesthetic if they are placed on the outskirts of the park, but high grasses where dogs will constantly run and roll can carry a risk for ticks.

Although natural grass has been the norm, there are synthetic turf systems available that are designed specifically for dog park use, but there are important considerations associated with using synthetic.

“While all infills can be deemed ‘sterile’ by nature, typical sand/rubber infills aren’t ideal because of the frequent bathroom breaks by animals, which means the cleanup would be messy,” said Chris Franks of SCG Fields.

In general, the synthetic systems designed for use in dog parks are non-infill, high density and short pile; and they are generally resistant to bacteria and odors. According to Franks, dog parks with a synthetic surface should have a drainage base and a below-ground way to remove water from the surface (3 to 4 inches of stone over filter fabric over a compacted subgrade). This not only keeps the surface dry from rain but, more importantly, allows for clean up by washing and/or scrubbing with a non-abrasive cleaner. Most dog parks also include water features and/or water fountains, so drainage could be an overlooked but very important part of the construction process, Franks added.

Photo by Rui Alves on Unsplash

 

Part of the regular maintenance of synthetic turf surfaces is hose-cleaning them to rinse away urine and other excrement. This will be particularly important in areas where there is little or no natural rainfall. Note that synthetic turf will require daily maintenance, or even twice daily in places where there are lots of dogs, as dogs do carry illnesses.

Other options used in dog park surfacing include the following:

Regular maintenance is key to keeping any surface in shape, and that includes the level of care being exercised by pet owners. If users regularly clean up after their dogs, it goes a long way toward making the surroundings pleasant.

The height of fencing around dog parks is a subject of debate; however, higher fencing (at least five feet at the top rail and often even higher) is generally preferred. Footings should be buried at least one foot down, and fence panels should be buried to a depth of six inches at all locations, except at access points, in order to deter dogs from trying to dig their way out. 

Photo by Judy Beth on Unsplash

 

And just as with sports facilities, it is amenities that will make a dog park stand out:

The number and type of amenities will be determined by the space available, the budget, the level of security and other considerations.

Photo by Sherissa R on pexels.com

 

Dog parks should have lists of rules posted at the entrances and prominently featured throughout the park. These may include information such as:

The first dog park can be a daunting project, but fortunately there are plenty of examples in neighborhoods, community associations and apartment and condo complexes nationwide, and you probably won’t have to drive too far to locate a few in your area.

“The best way of evaluating what works (and what doesn’t) at dog parks is to do more than just a drive-by viewing,” said Narozanick. “Park nearby, sit in the park, make notes, take pictures and visit for a while. Talk to people who are bringing their dogs to the park. What do they like? What would they change?”

Spend some time watching the park itself and the dogs in it. Are there any toys, amenities or structures in particular the dogs seem to enjoy? Are there any they tend to ignore?

Watch the dog owners as well. Do they interact with their dogs or do they come in, turn their dogs loose and then begin talking with friends or looking at their phones, without paying attention? Do owners who have both a large and a small dog turn them loose on the same side of the park, even though it is not made for dogs of that size? 

Take a look at the surface. How is it holding up? Can the management give you some insights into what maintenance is like? Does the fence seem to be an appropriate height for the dogs in the park? Are the rules prominently posted?

If a dog park is being planned in your area, there is probably a user group that is giving input. What parks have they visited and what have they noticed? While it is common for user groups to want every amenity they can think of, work to create a realistic scenario. 

Work with a designer and/or a builder who has experience with dog parks; the demand for dog parks has created an industry in itself. Those professionals will draw from your knowledge in fields and help you apply it to the park being built to create an amenity that enriches your area for years to come.   

 

Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA). For more information, visit www.sportsbuilders.org