Guidelines for designing and managing public open space
Summary
Study on the use of public open space by dogs and their owners with improved design in a fomat to assist local governments.This reports on a study entitled ‘Public Open Space and Dogs: A Design and Management Guide for Open Space Professionals and Local Government'. The study confirms the case for continued access to public open space by dogs and assesses the policy responses to the issues raised. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each response with the aim of assisting local authorities to make better policy choices.
Whether dogs are banned or allowed in a particular park is not important, but the combination of options available to them overall is. The Guide's principal aim is planning at the local or municipality-wide level using a balanced approach. This will benefit dogs and their owners as a group with legitimate needs, the wider community and those responsible for enforcing animal management by-laws. The Guide outlines a strategic framework for local authorities to assess their own requirements and choose the right combination of options in an informed manner.
The paper contains excellent depictions of alternative designs and multiple uses for public open space.