“Denver Dogs Gain Turf in Struggle for Space”Denver, along with many other major metropolitan areas in the US, has been struggling with the“hottest new city park issue to hit America” – dog park planning.The City of Denver has not been in this struggle alone and has benefited with guidance from acitizen stakeholder group and internal agency advisory group in developing solutions to addressthe need for dog park facilities in closer proximity to the places we live, in developing solutionsto better control and enforce dogs running loose in our parks, to gain better citizen participation,and to elevate Denver’s existing and future facilities to a higher standard.A series of draft recommendations with proposed solutions for the outlined issues have beenshared for public response and feedback and are now being processed and formalized internally.The recommendations being formalized fall into four general categories that positively andaggressively address the outlined issues.

Existing Facilities

The City of Denver understands that in order live up to its reputation as a dog-friendly city and toserve its citizens, improvements must first be made to the city’s existing dog park facilities. Withthis understanding, the City has committed capital funds for improvements in 2010/2011 to be puttoward upgrading surface materials and conditions at Fuller Dog Park, designing improvementsfor Berkeley Dog Park, and adding amenities at Barnum Dog Park and Kennedy Dog Park. Toassist in the management of a healthy and improved space at these and other existing locations,reinstatement and consistent use of the City’s dog park rating system is recommended.

Improving Field Staffing Levels and Education / Enforcement

Recognizing the need to better control and enforce dogs running loose in our parks,recommendations to improve field staffing levels, improve educational outreach, and to improveenforcement are being carried forward. This is not something that can happen without some newsources of revenue. In an effort to support these recommendations, an annual fee for use of dog park facilities, new fines, and greater understanding of owner responsibility are needed.-

Fees:

For Denver residents, a $25 annual user fee and coinciding color-coded dog tagwill be required for entry into all Denver dog parks. This annual fee is for one dog.Additional dogs under one owner may be eligible for a discounted annual user fee for each additional dog. Non-Denver residents will be required to pay a $40 annual user fee for use of all Denver dog parks. Volunteer efforts in helping maintain dog park facilities and helping with educational outreach will be recognized through adiscounted fee program. Fees will cover costs for additional enforcement in Denver parks, will go toward matching funds for building new facilities, and will provide amore sustainable revenue stream for maintenance.-

Fines:

To stress the education and requirement of licensure, vaccination, and payment of the annual user fee for access to Denver dog parks, fines for falsification of any of these requirements is being recommended.

Owner Responsibility:

In order for dog owners and dog park users to have a fullunderstanding of the rules and regulations and requirements for use of Denver’s dog park facilities, owners will be required to review and sign off on educational materialsclarifying these elements at the time of purchase of the annual dog park user fee.