All Proposed Dog Parks Begin with Community Involvement

(Washington, DC) – Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Clark E. Ray announced the release of DPR’s Dog Park Establishment Application.  With this application and the recently published final rules for dog parks, new public dog parks can now be proposed and built in the District of Columbia.

“DPR is excited to work directly with the communities we serve in bringing new public dog parks to the residents and dogs of the District,” said Director Ray.  “I am committed to maintaining a public and fair process for establishing new dog parks.  All dog park applications must come directly from the residents of the neighborhood where the proposed dog park is located.”

Proposing a new public dog park in the District includes the following:

• A Dog Park Establishment Application and proposal must be submitted by a sponsoring group.
• DPR must be contacted prior to the submission of a Dog Park Application so ownership of the proposed site can be established.  Only available District-owned parkland can be considered for proposed dog parks.
• Each dog park shall be sponsored by a dog park group, which shall share responsibilities with DPR for the maintenance, management, and enforcement of the site.
• Applications must include letters and/or petitions of support from adjoining Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC's).  Signatures of residents near the proposed dog park must also be collected. 
• Applications will be published in the DC Register for a 30 day public comment period, and then reviewed by the DPR Director, and the DPR Dog Park Application Review Committee.
• Applicants will be notified by the DPR Director within 30 days of receiving the committee’s recommendation on the application.