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Recommendations and Guidelines for Dog Park Site Selection, Design, Operations and Maintenance <br /> <br />Page 8 <br /> Hours of Operation: Dawn to dusk is common. <br /> Use Permit: Obtaining a dog park permit as part of purchasing a dog license is common practice. <br /> Volunteers and Enforcement: A few cities have volunteers involved with the park maintenance and <br />activity programming. Involvement of community members was noted to increase acceptance of the <br />dog park and helps to minimize problems. <br /> <br />DOG PARK GUIDELINES FOR ANN ARBOR <br />Guidelines for Development and Maintenance of New Dog Parks (Goal 3) <br />Many of the below criteria are consistent with the off-leash Task Force Report of June 1998. However, <br />several criteria have been updated based on current research and public input. This section outlines guidelines <br />for placement, design, management, and enforcement of both existing and proposed dog parks, and the <br />public process to be followed to establish new dog parks. The guidelines are derived from public input and <br />what the subcommittee learned from research of other city’s practices. <br />Guidelines for Placement of New Dog Parks <br /> Size: The size of dog parks will be dependent upon the particular park in which it is proposed, other <br />park activities, facilities, proximity to residences, etc. Larger is better (at least ½ acre), but if a <br />smaller dog park area is all that can be accommodated in a particular park, and if there is <br />community support, then a smaller size will be considered. <br /> Buffer from Residential: It is crucial to provide a buffer between nearby residences and the dog <br />park. The buffer should allow for neighbors to have no more disturbances from a dog park than other <br />typical park uses. Buffers may include vegetation and/or berms to aid in noise/visual attenuation. <br /> Non-residential Adjacent Land Use: Depending on the type of business or institution, a dog park <br />may be considered either a beneficial amenity or an undesirable facility. <br /> Drinking Fountain: A source of drinking water is highly desirable within or adjacent to the dog park <br />area. <br /> Parking: Sufficient parking, convenient to the site, should be provided such that the dog park does not <br />create undue burden on surrounding neighborhoods. <br /> Land Suitability: The site should be relatively flat and have permeable soils. If a desirable site has <br />excessive slopes, it should be designed such that erosion does not become an issue, water bodies are <br />protected, and visibility to all dogs is possible within the fenced in area. <br /> Shade: Shade is highly desirable. The site should provide a good mix of mature trees and open <br />space/turf grass. <br /> Use Conflict Avoidance: It is important to provide a sufficient buffer between the dog park area and <br />other recreational facilities such as playgrounds, trails, ball fields, picnic shelters, game courts, or any <br />existing heavily used or programmed area.