Groynes Dog Park. Taking the Lead

Transcription

1 Groynes Dog Park Taking the Lead

2 Shirley/Papanui Community Board 35 Langdons Road (cnr Langdons Rd & Restell St) PO Box 73024, Christchurch, 8053 February 2013

3 1 Into the Great Unknown From humble and somewhat controversial beginnings, the dog park at the Groynes, which is owned by the Christchurch City Council, has grown to become a model for canine cavorting. Beginning with a small pocket of green space at the Groynes in 1990, the park has grown to over 15 times it s original size; a hallmark of a successful idea that continually evolves to meet the needs of it s end users. Some of the Large Dog Agility Equipment The first of its kind in New Zealand, the park has seen visitors from New Zealand and Australia with a view of developing something similar in their communities. Dog parks are now evident all over the City and New Zealand. Its the successful model of the Groynes that has made the phenomenon an essential item on Council asset lists nationwide.

4 Now boasting 4 hectares of space, nine separate fenced-in areas offering everything from water play to dedicated training equipment for both small and large dogs, the park is a much loved and well-utilised asset to Christchurch City. Over 500 dogs per day are using the new facilities, with that number increasing during the weekends. 2 Situated among the 93 hectares of land within the Groynes park, the dedicated dog park provides easy access Dog owners who enjoy the company of their pets and other like-minded people without having to worry about upsetting other park users who don t do dogs. With the success of the park to date, improvements are continual. Socialising at the Waters Edge

5 And so it began... 3 In May 1990, dog owners all over the city found a voice in a Shirley/Papanui community board member, Yvonne Palmer. Having spent the previous summer talking to dog owners who would pop into her shop to buy ice creams, she identified a need for a dedicated green space for dogs and their owners to spend quality time together. Yvonne felt that with the increasing number of residents coupled with the decreasing size of the average back yard, the need for a dedicated space for exercising dogs was becoming more important every year. At the same time, the Council was considering banning dogs from the Groynes area altogether, lessening the space available for dogs and their owners to exercise together. Yvonne made submissions to the then Christchurch City Council s Parks and Recreation Committee, having gained the Shirley / Papanui Community Boards support. She requested a small area of the Groynes Recreation park be set aside for a dedicated dog park. A report was presented showing Christchurch had the highest ratio of dogs per capita than any other main centre in New Zealand. Original Dog Park Area Yvonne Palmer, former Chairperson of the Shirley/ Papanui Community Board.

6 4 A Typical Sunday The Parks and Recreation Committee agreed to a trial period to assess the concept, and asked the Parks Manager to report back in March of 1991 on his findings. A small section of the Groynes park was fenced off, a couple of very basic agility exercises were placed, and the Dog Park was open for business. The trial was a huge success. A bigger space was set aside for dogs and their owners, including picnic tables and more exercise equipment. This space was opened in But even this space became too small for the demand. The third and current phase of the park, with all the great features now on offer, was opened in March 2007 with a formal opening ceremony in September of that year. The dog park has become a collaboration between the Shirley/Papanui Community Board, the Christchurch City Council and the users themselves. The Board has found that users tend to police themselves, so the incidences of bad behaviour or dog fighting are nearly nil. The users have found that the owners and dogs who use the park are very sociable in nature, rather than tend toward anti-social behaviour. The latest and largest phase of the Groynes Dog park is now enjoyed by hundreds of owners and dogs every week.

7 Continuous Improvement The original agility section of the dog park soon became far too small for the needs of dogs and their owners, so dog clubs were consulted, users were talked to, and a bigger agility area was established. The smaller area, however, never went to waste. Instead it is now a dedicated small dog agility area, where Chihuahuas and Poodles can jump and climb without conflicting with larger dogs. The water section of the first phase of the park turned out to be too cramped, so the team at the Groynes set to work fencing off a section of the River for dogs and their owners. The park now has two separate and distinct water areas; a smaller, deep, slow moving section, and a much larger, faster moving river section. The ingenuity of the Groynes Ranger Arthur Adcock and his staff has solved many a problem, as it has arisen. A long fenced lead-in area to the main dog park means dogs and owners can check out the other park users well before entry to avoid possible dog confrontation; this also means that they have time to acclimatise to the new surroundings. 5

8 6 The gating system that leads into the various ares has been designed to ensure dogs can t get out while others are coming in, which is an important safety barrier for owners who may be concerned that their dog will leave the park without them. With the complete separation of the various sections of the park, owners can choose to socialise or just wander alone. The separate areas of play for the different types of dogs ensure that dogs and their owners have a unique experience. For the bigger dogs, the scrub land provides long grass to sniff out rabbits and mice, wood piles to explore, hills to climb and room to run. For the smaller, more pampered pooch, the agility areas give them places to show off, water to dunk their feet in and just enough room to gallivant about without losing sight of their owners. A unique innovation is a Bookable area - this is a fenced paddock available for booking by dog clubs for their exclusive use. This area was jointly and evenly funded by the Council and the charitable trust, Greyhounds as Pets (GAP). It has been the scene of regular gatherings by specialist dog clubs and provides an ideal environment for large gatherings of same breed dogs, which otherwise could be intimidating to other dogs if they were present en masse in the park s regular areas.

9 7 1 Water area - deep and slow flowing 2 Small dog agility area 3 Exercise area 4 Picnic area 5 Agility area 6 River area - access to shallow, fast flowing, narrow river 7 Cross country area 8 Tree area 9 Bookable area 10 Farm area - stock fencing only, accessible by dogs under control

10 The Dog Park as it is Today

11 9 Cost The overall cost of the dog park can at best be a rounded estimate. This is because there is such a practice of recycling, reusing and repositioning undertaken by Ranger Adcock and his staff at the Groynes. For example, the shingle used for the carpark came from another part of the Groynes which needed soil. So the soil from the carpark was taken to the part that needed soil, and the shingle from there went into the car park. The fencing around much of the dog park was left over from previous jobs, or rescued from another part of the park that was opened up. Thus trying to cost these items is nigh on impossible. However, Ranger Adcock was able to provide figures for the bigger items of the dog park. Agility section $49,000 Fencing $48,000 Drinking fountain $ 4,000 Barbeque $ 4,000 Dog drinking bowls,/fountains $ 5,300 Signage $ 3,000 Tables and Seats $10,000 Provision of doggy doo bags $ 400 The costs were met with funds from a combination of sources in the council including Animal Control unit and the Parks and Recreation unit. The Shirley / Papanui Community Board contributed around $13,000.

12 The Outcome 10 Today, the park is one of the best utilised pieces of greenspace in the city. Christchurch is truly fortunate to have an area like the Groynes so close to the city, and the benefits of including a dog park in that are far reaching. With sustained support from the Community Board all the way to the various Park Rangers over the years, the dog park is a true demonstration of best practice at work. But perhaps the most compelling indication of the success of the park are the testimonies from every day users. Bud, a terrier; is staying in a local kennel until his family moved into their new house. But every day for the two weeks since they got here Wendy and her two children pick Bud up and bring him to the Groynes dog park to run and sniff and play. They spend around an hour every day walking through the long grass and Bud always gets a swim in the river Wendy says We don t have anything like this back home in England, I just love it! Our new house is in Redcliffs, but we re going to come back here, because it is so marvellous!.

13 11 Hunter comes for a wander through the scrub land every day with his owner, Terry. Hunter is 6 years old and totally deaf, but he enjoys getting near his mates and having a leap around. He s very vocal for a deaf dog, and just loves telling the younger dogs who s the boss. Hunter used to come with Terry from Rangiora every day, but has now moved into Christchurch City, so is much closer Terry says Rain, hail or shine, you ll find us here, every day. Its just what we do. Libby and Hector, two immodest Huntaways bring their owners Davina and Graham to the park every day from North St Albans. Before the dog park, they used to walk around local streets and sports fields, but they much prefer the bigger, freer area of the dog park. Davina says they re much happier dogs at the end of a good run, and I bring them every day before work. We walk for around 45 minutes every day - it s great exercise for me too!

14 12 Baxter has been coming to the Groynes dog park for over 18 months, from his home in Spencerville. He used to walk around the streets with Mum, Barbara and Dad Colin, but they like it better without the horse poop for Baxter to roll in. Baxter especially likes the running water and big space to run. Colin says we come here every weekend and once or twice during the week; we love the fact that its all fenced and Baxter can t get away on us. Cody is a first time visitor to the park, with his owners Derek and Lesley. They were on their way to somewhere else and dropped in. But they think they ll be making the trip from West Melton again soon. Derek says I m astonished at the size of this place! I never really knew it was here, but what a fantastic resource. We ll be back, for sure. Cody was really enjoying showing off on the equipment in the small dog agility section of the park.

15 13 Lessons Learned and Challenges Overcome Perhaps the biggest challenge that faced the dog park was the uniqueness of the idea. Once the council approved setting aside funds for a dedicated dog park, it became media fodder. Local talk back radio ran red hot with complaints that it was a waste of rate-payers money. But the perseverance and tenacity of the Community Board and the park ranger were rewarded with the huge success of the venture. A key lesson in the project has been the need to continually assess and grow as required. As the project became a reality and as that reality became accepted the need for better facilities for owners and dogs became apparent. Pooper-scooper facilities; barbeques; seating; water; picnic tables so families could enjoy a meal with their pets; additional car parking; swimming water access. This challenge presented the park staff with an opportunity to think and work outside the square; rather than taking the project, finishing it and then letting the public in, this project has been very much an ongoing, self-evolving exercise in partnership with the users. And it continues to be so.

16 14 Of course, the rate and size of the growth is restricted to the land and amenities available. But because of the success of the Groynes Dog Park, other areas have been identified and utilised across the city, providing the benefits to an even larger number of dog owners and communities. The benefits have reached further than the users of the dog park. With a dedicated area set aside for dogs to walk, play and exercise with their owners, the strain is taken off other city amenities. The thousands of dogs per week that use the dog park are not defecating on sports grounds, they re not chasing neighbourhood cats or running into suburban streets, and they re not ripping open rubbish bags or chewing kids shoes. Specially designed double-sided drinking fountain for the Groynes The parks have also provided an opportunity to continually evolve and improve in other areas. Specially designed drinking fountains; some double sided (and therefore accessible from both sides of a fence) were installed. These cater for humans and dogs of all sizes. Several picnic tables have recently been added.

17 A Real Asset 15 Christchurch City now has 8 dedicated dog parks, based on the success of the Groynes. These specialist green spaces are scattered throughout the city, providing freedom and fun for dog owners everywhere. The benefits for dogs, their owners and the greater community are being felt throughout the garden city, especially as smaller residential sections have become prevalent. The success of the Groynes dog park has inspired others outside of the Board s area. Other Councils in New Zealand have installed dog parks following the blueprint provided for them by the Groynes. Distinct from areas that simply allow dogs to be present, dedicated dog parks that provide poop bins, exercise equipment and a fenced area where dog owners can feel at ease with their beloved pets running free are popping up all over the country. Over a dozen representatives from various councils around the country have made the journey to learn from the Groynes example. Leash free dog parks can now be found in Hamilton, Greymouth, Dunedin, Temuka, and Wellington. Perhaps the most significant thing to learn from the dog park is the way in which the planning and design has evolved in such a partnership orientated manner. Arthur and his team have used the natural layout of the land to create the separate areas, and he has also used the suggestions and requirements from dog owners a sguidance regarding what to put in and what to leave out. It s this creative, cooperative and proactive approach that has made the Groynes Dog Park the incredible success that it is. The initiative of this dog park has been one of the jewels in the crown for the Shirley/Papanui Community Board, where residents can visit a beautiful park in a rural setting within a few minutes travel from any part of the city and enjoy the facility that has evolved through strong community partnership.

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19 This entry is submitted for the NZ Community Boards Best Practice Awards 2013 by the Shirley/Papanui Community Board It is submitted under the Leadership category Members of the Shirley/Papanui Community Board: Chris Mene (Chairperson), Kathy Condon (Deputy Chairperson), Anna Button, Ngaire Button, Pauline Cotter, Chris English and Aaron Keown

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