Public Open Space and Dogs

6.1.4 Different zones in one park

Sometimes the access policy for dogs varies within one park, i.e. there are some parts where dogs are allowed and some where they are not (or alternatively some parts where they allowed off leash and others where they are required to remain leashed). The advantages of this approach are:

It maintains an access opportunity that would be removed if dogs were banned from the park entirely, or it allows owners to take their leashed dog to a park and later visit the free-running area as part of the same outing.

It is more practical in today's political environment that emphasises efficiency and multiple use of park facilities.

There are also several disadvantages:

The policy can be confusing to park users if careful attention is not paid to park layout and accompanying information. The transition between zones needs to be legible to park users.

A multi-zone park may encourage non-compliance, e.g. people letting their dogs off the leash before they get to the free-running area.

It may require expensive and unattractive fencing within the park. A distinction here should be made between fencing that is required for legibility and fencing required as a physical barrier.

On balance, we favour the provision of multi-zone parks, especially if they can be improved with some of the design suggestions below.

Design recommendations

Some principles for solving common problems in multi-zone parks include the following:

Every effort should be made to make it clear on the ground where one zone stops and another starts rather than relying on explanatory maps or brochures. This is called 'design legibility' and it aims to minimise confusion. Obvious features should be sought to define zones such as internal park roads and paths, fences, hedges, rows of trees, wide planting strips, marked changes in topography. Legibility can also be reinforced with changes in paving, landscape type etc. This minimises the costs of fencing where a physical barrier is not required

ZONING.

Use the natural topography to separate uses.

MULTIPLE ZONE PARK:

Use subtle changes to create design legibility, e.g. material, planting styles, park furniture, to delineate zones.

Appropriate signage should be provided at each entry point to the park. It should be specific, clear and consistent throughout the municipality. Care should be taken to accommodate likely language requirements.

This sign is not clear - are dogs banned in the whole park or only in the vicinity of the play equipment?

Each zone should preferably have direct access to the street or a park to minimise the requirement for people to walk through one zone to access another.

Consideration should be given to the provision of buffer or transition zones between different parts of the park to minimise any spill-over effects of one zone on another.

6.1.5 Time share arrangements

A time-share arrangement can be used to provide free-running access to dogs at particular times of the day, say in non-peak times such as the early morning and late afternoon. It is more commonly used in North America than in this country. Time sharing is a workable arrangement that accommodates everyone's needs in areas where the number of opportunities is limited. It provides the same effect as separation, only temporally.

However:

It concentrates potential problems into a restricted number of hours.

Faecal deposits that are not responsibly removed may be a problem at other times.

Some dog owners may be disadvantaged if they work irregular hours or have small children. Time-share may not suit retired people wanting to use time available during the day.

Management recommendation

This option is probably most suitable in areas where are a high proportion of dog owners are employed or where available opportunities are very limited.

Extensive consultation should be carried out to gauge likely demand before this option is implemented.

RETURN TO INDEX

PETNET HOMEPAGE