Dog Park Meeting Report
March 14, 2006

Citizens Evaluate Dog Parks, Address Key Issues

Many interested Decatur citizens and dog park users attended the Dog Park meeting in March at the Solarium in Oakhurst. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate the dog parks since their opening in July 2005, and to address issues like overuse, waste and litter. The wet area at Oakhurst Dog Park and a request for a totally enclosed area by Glenlake Dog Park users were also discussed.

Adair Dog Park users were generally satisfied with their current separate, but not totally enclosed, space. They requested an extension of the existing picket fence on Trinity Place because the current opening allows dogs access to the street.

Coaches and other park users expressed concern about continued use of athletic fields as free-run areas for dogs, despite the city ordinance that prohibits that activity. 

Citizens made many constructive suggestions at the meeting, including: 

• Search out small parcels of land for smaller “pocket parks” that would be supervised by the neighborhood.
• Hold a fundraising event for dog parks by all citizens interested in developing pocket parks or making improvements to existing dog parks.
• Plant wetland trees and plants to help with the mud problem at Oakhurst; close the park when there is standing water.
• Place better signage on picking up litter and self-policing by users.
• Place and routinely stock Mutt Mitt dog stations within all dog parks (because the green units currently in the parks are not working well). 

Permit Discussion
More controversial was the issue of establishing Decatur dog parks as “resident only” or “permit only” facilities. The citizens, in general, agreed that a permit system would be preferable to the closing of dog parks and would help address the problems encountered from overuse. They expressed concerns about resident fees, how cumbersome the permit process might be, and enforcement. If the permit system should sufficiently reduce overuse of the dog parks, then permits could be made available to nonresidents for a fee.

Ball Field Access
Glenlake dog owners at the meeting agreed that they would conform to a schedule that would allow them limited access to the lower ball field while the city determines a new space in the park to be used as a totally enclosed dog park and has it fenced. They agreed to be diligent in self policing in regard to dog waste because the Rec is entering into soccer and baseball season and there will be increased use of the lower field. It was suggested that if the proposed bond referendum passed, that a dog park would be included in the design.

Other Solutions
Oakhurst Dog Park users in attendance agreed to a plan to have half of the park available to them and the other half closed on a rotating basis to allow for seeding of the area. It was suggested that the Fifth Avenue School property might be a site for a smaller, alternative space for a dog area and community playground.

Actions to Be Taken
Based on the input of the citizens in attendance and City staff, the following actions will be taken by the City of Decatur:

• The picket fence at Adair Park will be extended to limit access to Trinity Place after July 1.
• The City will seek out and totally enclose with fencing another area of Glenlake Park as soon as possible.
• Decatur dog parks will be resident only/permit required facilities.
• City of Decatur residents will be required to register with the Recreation Department for a free permit and identifying tag per dog. Tags must be attached to the dog’s collar.
• Proof of rabies vaccination, as required by Georgia Law, and proof of residency will be required to secure a permit. 

>New Regulations