Off-leash Dog Park Planning
To meet increasing demand, Raleigh City Council has given approval to create additional off-leash dog areas. The City’s first off-leash area is located at Millbrook Exchange Community Park on Spring Forest Road and was opened in the summer of 2003. The second area was opened in the spring of 2006 at Oakwood Neighborhood Park at 910 Brookside Drive. Raleigh's third area was opened at Carolina Pines Community Park, 2305 Lake Wheeler Road in October 2007. Oakwood and Carolina Pines are both daylight-only facilities; Millbrook has lights and is open until approximately 10 PM.
The existing parks are a cooperative venture between the City of Raleigh and organized neighborhood advocacy groups. Working with People for Unleashed Parks (PUP), the City amended the master plan for Millbrook Exchange Park to include the off-leash dog area and amended the code of ordinances to allow dogs to be off-leash within the confines of a designated dog exercise area. The City still requires that all dogs be restrained by a leash on all other public properties within City limits. All facilities are double-gated to prevent dogs from wandering off.
Future off-leash areas in City of Raleigh parks will follow the model of the Millbrook project and will be spaced around the City. The recommendation of the Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board (PRGAB; the report is linked below), accepted by the Raleigh City Council in April 2005 includes no entrance fees, daylight operation, owner’s responsibility for their pets behavior and requires volunteer support for construction and operation, including cleaning of the facility.
PRGAB Report on Off-Leash Dog Areas
STATUS:
- The City Council has recognized the popularity of these off-leash areas, and has appropriated funds for additional projects. An ad hoc committee of the PRGAB continues to work to incorporate the off-leash areas into existing parks or other City of Raleigh property to meet the public’s interests.
- When City Council adopted the Leesville Community Park Master Plan on May 1, 2007, it accepted the Public Works Committee recommendation that the proposed off-leash area not be included in this park, but that strong consideration be given for providing an off-leash dog area at the next two park planning efforts in Northwest Raleigh.
- The PRGAB recommended looking at Glen Eden Pilot Park as a potential location for an off-leash area. This site does not appear adequate at this time, and may receive further consideration in the future if more off-leash areas are implemented in the City.
- Per action from the October 18, 2005 City Council meeting, the proposed off-leash dog area at Lake Johnson Metro Park was presented for comments at a public meeting. Due to concerns associated with the cooperative use of the general area by Athens Drive High School, this site is still under evaluation.
Last updated: 10/31/07
For More Information Contact:
David Shouse
Park Planner
Parks and Recreation Department
222 West Hargett Street, Suite 608
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-890-3285
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