Indianapolis = There are three canine companion zones in Indianapolis. A two-acre dog park is located in Broad Ripple Park, a ten-acre facility known as the Eagle Creek Canine Companion Zone, and the Humane Society of Indianapolis operates a third dog park.
Dog parks can vary in size, ranging anywhere from one acre to fifty acres. Most off-leash areas tend to be between two and five acres. This size is usually large enough to withstand the daily “wear and tear” and is usually a more realistic size in terms of land availability.
Dog parks can be very beneficial to a community. Some of the ways include:
· Builds a sense of community by giving dog owners a common venue to participate in an activity they enjoy.
· Promotes responsible pet ownership.
· Provides elderly and disabled owners with an accessible place to exercise their companions.
· Enables dogs to legally and safely run off-leash.
· Provides a tool for realistic enforcement of dog control laws.
· Prevents off-leash dogs from infringing on the rights of other park users.
In addition to these required design elements, there are several elements which would certainly improve the attractiveness of the dog park:
· A water spigot so park users can water their dogs.
· Benches or picnic tables for people to use while their dogs are running about.
· A separate area for smaller dogs.
3.) Raise funding for the project. Efforts to raise money to complete this project could be undertaken in conjunction with the planning process to help get the park established quicker. As a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the LDRA is willing take on the responsibility of raising money for the area. If the state were willing to provide matching funds (50/50, 75/25) it would accelerate fundraising efforts.
Funds could come from corporate gifts, local official’s discretionary resources, donations from the community, and coordinated fundraising events.
It is believed that $25,000 will be an adequate amount to construct a 2 - 5 acre dog park.
This amount can fluctuate depending on the size and number of amenities that are initially constructed.
Please See Section VII Estimated Price.
4.) Construction.
5.) Open the park. Once the park is open, it will take an on-going cooperative effort between E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, the Louisville Dog Run Association, and park users to make the park a success.
There are a number of activities that could be planned to help bring people to the dog park and help maintain the aesthetic quality of the facility.
· Biweekly pick-up sessions to make sure the facility is free from dog waste.
· Weekly dog training classes to help promote responsible pet ownership and to make our canines better citizens.
· Dog-related events and fundraisers to help raise money for the operation costs of the dog park.
