Guidelines for designing and managing public open space.

Virginia Jackson

Abstract

This paper reports on a recent study entitled Public Open Space and Dogs: A Design and Management Guide for Open Space Professionals and Local Government.

The study confirms the case for continued access to public open space by dogs and assesses the main policy responses to the issues raised. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each response with the aim of assisting local authorities to make better policy choices.

What matters most is not whether dogs are banned or allowed in a particular park but the combination of options that exist overall. The Guide's principal concern is therefore with planning at the area or municipality-wide level. A balanced approach such as this will not only benefit dogs and their owners as a group with legitimate needs and also the wider community as well as those charged with the responsibility of enforcing animal management bye-laws.

The Guide sets out the strategic framework to assist local authorities to assess their own requirements and choose the right combination of options in a balanced and informed manner. It provides the background and supporting information required and a framework for councils to initiate a process in their own communities - the more detailed planning can then be done at the local level.

About the author

Virginia Jackson B.Trp (Hons), MRAPI

Harlock Jackson Pty Ltd

Town Planners and Urban Policy Analysts

19 Victoria Grove

HAWTHORN EAST VIC 3123

Tel/Fax (03) 9882 6065

Virginia Jackson is a town planner and urban policy analyst with experience working in state and local government

and, since 1987, as a consultant to government, the private sector, community groups and individuals. She has been

conducting research in urban animal management for 5 years including a review of town planning policies and

regulations for their impact on pet ownership (1991), preparation of guidelines for pet friendly housing design

(1993) and a design and management guide for integrating dogs into public open space (1995). She has also made

preliminary investigations into the role that pets will play in cities of the future. Her current work on compliance

started with an introductory paper last year exploring the limitations of regulatory approaches in urban animal

management.

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