Photo by Susannah Moore
Westgrove Dog Park
Fairfax County is considering making improvements to its 13 public dog parks. Improvements requested by residents include more frequent restocking of pet waste bags, agility equipment, separated play areas for small dogs or puppies, seating and drinking water.
Now, residents have another chance to weigh in on what they want to see. Fairfax County has released a draft report on dog parks and is requesting feedback from residents on the draft report here (or by emailing parkmail@faifaxcounty.gov). Comments will be accepted until April 23.
Fairfax County officials are also hosting a public meeting on the report on March 23 at 7 p.m. (Register here.)
An increase in dog ownership, including "pandemic puppies" adopted by many people who found themselves working from home, combined with increased urbanization and population growth in areas like Fairfax County, where fewer residents have access to backyards, contributes to the rise in popularity of dog parks. They can be a great place to socialize and exercise dogs, if used properly.
Currently, there are 13 public dog parks in Fairfax County, 11 of which are owned and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). Three are located in Southeast Fairfax County – Lenclair/Blackjack Dog Park off South Kings Hwy. in the Groveton area, Westgrove Park off of Fort Hunt Road near Belle View, and Grist Mill Dog Park off of the Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.
Image courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority
To better understand the demand for more dog parks and for refined operations of existing dog parks in Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Parks Authority conducted a dog park study. A draft report of the study’s findings was recently released by the FCPA earlier this month.
As a part of the study, the FCPA released a 30-day survey at the end of 2019, where members of the public could provide feedback on dog park use, concerns and future needs. Through the survey, the FCPA received over 4,600 responses including 2,500 unique comments.
The main focus of the study was summarized in six focus areas as defined in the draft report below:
• Evaluate countywide dog park need and update dog park countywide planning approach and site placement guidelines
• Review and revise dog park design standards
• Review and develop operations and maintenance best practices for dog parks
• Recommend potential design and operational improvements to FCPA existing dog parks
• Evaluate dog park volunteering opportunities and identify appropriate responsibilities
• Research and recommend funding sources, partnerships, and donation opportunities
• Analyze rules, enforcement, and etiquette
Changes Considered for Local Dog Parks
The 141-page draft report provides details on the future of dog parks in Fairfax County.
The FCPA plans to construct a new dog park by 2025 to keep up with demand. Where the park is built will be based off of density of licensed dogs and several other geographic factors.
The study also recommends that FCPA hosts more dog related events and consolidates dog related information like events, parks and volunteer opportunities onto one webpage with a designated point of contact.
The study lays out ideas on the design of County dog parks. While there are different options for dog park surfacing, washed stone dust will remain the surfacing type of choice for FCPA dog parks for its durability, low maintenance and ability to drain. The 2-acre Westgrove Dog Park is the only natural turf (grass) dog park in the county. In the future natural turf will only be considered for parks of 3 acres or more due to its high maintenance. Many survey responses also indicated a need to separate parks into designated areas for large dogs and smaller dogs or younger and older dogs.
One of the most frequent complaints of dog park users is regarding the prevalence of pet waste that is not picked up and disposed of properly. The study says that more frequent restocking of dog waste bags in stations at the parks and better placement of trash receptacles may help this problem.
Seating areas, shade and a drinking water source in dog parks were important features to many users. Connectivity to parking or pedestrian access are also an important consideration. Some dog parks, like Westgrove, feature dog agility equipment or play amenities and more County dog parks could have these in the future if desired by the community.
The study also encourages FCPA to tap into dog park volunteers. This could take the form of park volunteer teams or Dog Park Friend Groups. Volunteers could help monitor dog park use and contribute to maintenance of the parks.
Funding for dog park creation and upkeep was another theme of the study. The study recommended part of the dog license fee collected by the county be used for dog parks and that opportunities for donation be created and promoted. Charging membership or user fees was not encouraged.
While the study did not find a need to adjust current rules or operating hours for FCPA dog parks, the need for rule enforcement was emphasized. Possible solutions include utilization of volunteers, increased signage and informational materials and the creation of clear reporting procedures for violation of rules.
Much of the analysis in the draft report was based on the number of dogs registered in Fairfax County. This is an important reason to make sure your pet is registered, especially if you plan to use a FCPA dog park. If you have recently moved to Fairfax County or recently welcomed a dog into your family, find out how to register them here.
The public is requested to provide feedback on the draft report here or by emailing parkmail@faifaxcounty.gov. Comments will be accepted until April 23, 2021. There will also be a public meeting on the report on March 23 at 7 p.m. Register here.
