Dog Park Fact Sheet

What is a dog park, anyway?

• These are simply places where people can exercise their dogs off-leash without infringing on the rights of other users of public space. (They’re also known as dog runs or off-leash recreation areas.)
• They can be “shared use” spaces, such as the Boston Common, where dogs are allowed off-leash from 5 – 7 a.m., or single-use spaces.
• They can be open or fenced-in.
• Dog parks are not a new concept: a recent study shows there are 600 dog parks in the U.S.
• Why do we need them? Boston Animal Control reports that there are 8,500 licensed dogs in Boston, and more than 30,000 total.

Dog parks benefit the entire community in many ways:

• Dog parks foster responsible canine caretaking since dogs must be licensed and vaccinated. This benefits local shelters, Boston Animal Control, local neighbors, and the dogs themselves.
• A dog park helps keep other public areas free of feces.
• Dogs engage in destructive behaviors, such as excessive barking, when they are under-exercised and bored. Off-leash exercise can help reduce this type of nuisance.
• The presence of dogs and their owners can revitalize little-used urban areas and may deter crime.
• Many studies show the benefits of animal companionship to the elderly and people with disabilities. Dog parks are often the only accessible place where they can exercise their companions.
• Groups such as Southwest BostonDOG can partner with local animal shelters and other organizations to reinforce important issues, such as spaying/neutering, picking up after one’s dog, obedience training, and responsible pet caretaking.
• In a city, people can be reluctant to approach their neighbors. Dog parks bring people together.
• Finally, dog parks give the animals a safe place to exercise while keeping them away from people who don’t care to be around them.

Why do dogs need to exercise off-leash?

• Dog behavior experts recommend daily off-leash exercise for dogs because, as in humans, regular physical exercise keeps dogs physically and mentally healthy.
• According to the MSPCA, dogs with destructive behaviors are very likely to be surrendered to an animal shelter. Such behaviors could be reduced with regular off-leash exercise.
• Studies have shown that dogs that exercise off-leash are not as aggressive towards people as dogs that are under-exercised. Allowing dogs to have an off-leash area socializes them. It brings them in contact with other dogs and causes them to be less aggressive to people and other dogs, making for calmer city living.
• Dog parks also promote responsible pet ownership, because canines who come to the park must be licensed and vaccinated.

Common Concerns

Common concerns other towns have had in creating off-leash recreation areas are:

• Bites and Fights
  Dog attacks at off-leash areas are rare. Studies show more than 90 percent of bites occur on a dog’s home territory, not in a neutral place such as a park. All park users must have current dog licenses. People with aggressive dogs may have their park privileges revoked by Animal Control and may be reported to the police.
• Picking up what Fido leaves behind
  It is already the law in Boston that dog feces must be picked up. Unfortunately, some people just don’t pick up after their dogs, park or no park. Dog park members can perform regular maintenance of the dog park to clean up anything that’s missed. Peer-pressure works too: park users tend to gently remind each other that we all have a stake in seeing that the park is kept clean.

What does a dog park look like?

A dog park can be located on a regularly maintained open grass area; many have a surface of pea gravel. Formal dog parks may be fenced-in, ideally about an acre in size, in an easily-accessible area. Many also have:

• Wheelchair access for people with disabilities.
• Double-gated entry.
• Adequate drainage.
• Lighting for nighttime/winter use.
• Feces bag dispensers.
• Regularly emptied trash cans.
• Other useful features a water fountain or tap, bench seating, a shaded area, and a rest room for people.

Other dog parks are simply designated space allocated for offleash dogs. These are typically shared space in parks or beaches, such as Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, where dog owners and non-dog owners share the space. In these areas is it imperative that owners have excellent voice control over their dog, ensure that their dog does not create a nuisance or show any kind of aggression to people or other dogs, and that all feces is immediately picked up and disposed of properly.

Boston’s a big city with limited open space. Do other cities have this?

In a word — YES! In fact, Boston is way behind the curve when it comes to dog parks. Below are the 20 largest U.S. cities and the number of dog parks each ones has:

Some local communities with one or more off-leash areas already include:

Other DogPark Organizations