Gone To The Dogs

Holly Springs, N.C. gives four-legged residents room to roam

By LeeAnn Plumer
Photos Courtesy of town of Holly Springs

For years many communities have offered places for people to run, play, and have fun, but now many agencies are hearing the call to provide safe, accessible dog parks, too. This shift is not a new trend, but continues to build. According to the American Pet Products Association, new pet ownership grew to 70 percent in 2020; many people believe this was a result of the pandemic lifestyle change. Holly Springs, N.C., is like any growing community committed to serving its two-legged citizens as well as furry, four-legged residents. Just as families expect places to play for their children, dogs and their owners are seeking opportunities for socialization and exercise.

As part of previous planning efforts, officials had identified the location for its first, off-leash dog park at Sugg Farm Park. The 100-acre site was under a land-conservation easement with restrictive development regulations. Staff members studied other regional parks and dog park reports to determine site considerations and features that would meet the unique interests and needs of the local community. The staff also visited other dog parks—both public and private—to learn what makes them successful.

Meanwhile, the parks and recreation department launched an online survey to gather input from residents about the elements they wanted to see in a new park. The survey included questions about the number of dogs people owned, times of days they would most likely attend, a ranking of important dog park features, and overall concerns about dog park use in general. It was concluded that dog owners are passionate about play for their pets. The results really set the course of action for design and implementation.

Officials then formed a multi-department work team with representatives from parks, animal control, planning, and operations departments to ensure a comprehensive approach to the design and operations of the park. While the health and safety of dogs and their owners were at the forefront of this effort, another important consideration was keeping within the $65,000 project’s budget allotment. 

Among the most important elements were the following:  

· Location

This was one of the highest priorities. Locations needed to have accessible parking, restrooms, and shade. Other activities at the park were taken into consideration, as well as the placement in relation to adjacent neighborhoods to ensure that barking would not be an issue. The size of the dog park area came into play because the goal was to include both a small-dog enclosure and a separate area for large dogs. The location selected was an area with several trees to provide a natural shade canopy, and it had convenient access to nearby parking and restrooms. Holly Springs needed an enclosed area no larger than one acre. The ideal size of a dog park depends on the number of dogs. Too large of a park will not yield more use, but require more materials to construct and more funding for maintenance.

· Design

As noted, a small-dog park and a large-dog park were desired for different styles of play by dogs of different sizes and sometimes by age or demeanor. Rules can be established to determine in which section a dog belongs, but in Holly Springs the guidelines recommend a small-dog area for dogs weighing under 30 pounds.

Best practices in design indicated a sally-port entrance that allows dogs to transition from being on a leash to entering the off-leash play area. Other must-haves are access to fresh drinking water, benches or seating for dog owners, and dog-waste stations with convenient access for refills and trash removal. Also of note, be careful not to install benches or other permanent objects like trash cans too close to a fence line. Dogs like to run along a fence, and they can easily run into these objects if there is not enough clearance. Another small but important consideration is the bench material or style. Many park benches have holes, perforated surfaces, or very narrow slats. Dogs that jump up on the benches may get their nails or toes stuck in smaller openings.

Note two other important elements of a well-designed park:

· Fencing

Each agency should review local-jurisdiction requirements for fence height and materials to be used for dog park areas. Holly Springs installed a 6-foot, wooden, rail post and wire fence enclosure to match the existing farm fencing at the park. A more common style is a galvanized, rubber-coated, chain-link fence. The coating on the wire allows the fence to blend into the environment and helps reduce sharp edges. With any fence selection, keep in mind the need for maintenance, and consider installing one or two double gates that are close to a potential vehicle-access point. Other considerations include optional locks and accessible latches for each gate entrance. Utilize an auto-closure on each pedestrian entrance to ensure gates are not left open for dogs to escape.

· Surfacing

Each surface has pros and cons. Common types include natural grass, concrete, gravel, artificial turf, and wood-fiber/mulch. Successful drainage on the site will also be impacted by the type of surfacing selected. Access to the play area also needs to be considered. Holly Springs installed a concrete walkway and entry pad to its play area. In the rest of the area, 8 to 12 inches of engineered, playground wood fiber (mulch-like) was blown-in from a local supplier. This selection has many benefits. When properly installed, it is accessible, it provides good drainage, and it is a safe material for humans and dogs. The depth of the surfacing is important as it provides a barrier along the fence edge that keeps dogs from digging under the fence fabric, and the thickness helps keep weeds out. If weeds do appear, they are hand-pulled or trimmed, as Holly Springs prohibits the use of herbicides at the dog park.

Throughout the planning and design, staff members determined the operations model for the dog park, including rules and regulations. Dog parks often have a long list of requirements and prohibitions, but all are included for the safety and health of the pets and their owners. Holly Springs representatives worked with animal-control officers and a local veterinarian to confirm the requirements that followed current laws and best practices. Many communities require a registration process and payment of a fee prior to allowing dogs in, which may or may not include a pass-management system. Other parks are open for general users and do not require a pass or registration, which is the model Holly Springs chose to implement. 

For the past several years, furry, four-legged friends in Holly Springs have enjoyed a safe place of their own to run, play, and socialize. Hopefully, if community members are begging for a dog park, a few of these tips will aid in a successful design and operations model. 

LeeAnn Plumer is the Parks and Recreation Director for the town of Holly Springs, N.C. Reach her at (919) 577-3127, or Leeann.plumer@hollyspringsnc.gov.