Welcome! This page is for everyone interested in making the city of Atlanta, GA a happier, safer & h Atlanta is booming with dogs! What a field day!
The national average of households that have at least one dog is 44%. Atlanta households have an average of 54%, making it the 9th most popular city to have a dog. That number is expected to climb in tandem with Atlanta's projected population boom. Currently, Atlanta Parks & Recreation has 17.78 acres of dog parks for the entire city population (divided across 6 official dog parks). That equates t
o 6,400 dogs per acre. Atlanta's visionary development does not have any plan for addressing this density overload. The existing guide to create a community dog park is antiquated, not in line with animal experts regarding size & puts excessive burden on citizens to "grass-root" it. https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showdocument?id=7741
This page is a resource to collect information surrounding dog parks (the good & bad) with the hopes of having Atlanta step up and do right by it's citizens.
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t...
05/18/2022
Education counts
Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.
03/22/2022
Great notes on dog park concerns! One size does not work for all. How about options? City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation
Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.
What U.S. cities have the best pooch-friendly green spaces? Find out in this study that rounds up 2021's best dog park cities.
07/17/2021
Handy resource but interesting to note only four (4) of the parks listed and actually in Atlanta. Two (2) of those are privately maintained and have a fee/purchase needed for access. Of the remaining two (2), one (1) isn’t even off-leash. Can we do better City of Atlanta Government ???
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No question, Atlanta is booming with dogs! According to Census data, the national average of households with at least one dog is 44%. Atlanta households have an average of 54%, making it the 9th most popular city to have at least one dog. Yet, Atlanta doesn’t even rank in Smart Index’s Dog-Friendly Cities list.
Atlanta Parks & Recreation oversees 5,000 acres of parks, allotting less than 0.2% to dedicated off-leash dog areas. Currently, there are 3 dog parks with a combined 9.5 acres of legal, public land for the entire city population: Piedmont Park (2.5 acres), South Bend (5 acres) & Renaissance Park (2 acres). Using 2016 population estimates from the U.S. Census, this equates to 11,937 dogs per acre. Adding to the problem, all three options provided by The City are destination dog parks & require a car for visiting. With Atlanta’s projected population increase, the time to do better is NOW!
Atlanta does not have a plan for addressing this dog-density overload. The existing manual to create a community dog park is out-of-date (1997), not in line with animal experts regarding successful measures for a dog park & puts excessive burden on citizens to “grass-root” it for this popular amenity.
The Atlanta Dog Patch is asking the Dept. of Parks & Rec to collaborate with its surrounding communities, local dog advocacy groups & volunteers that are ready to tailor off-leash dog parks according to neighborhood needs and usage. Pet resources benefit all citizens, pet owners & non owners alike. Research shows the benefits of having a dog park within walking distance to your home include:
Creates Community & Sense of Belonging
Fosters Civic Engagement & Stewardship of Parks
Increases Home Ownership & Property Values (a place for Fido ranks dog resources as #3 in home buying factors!)
Elevates City Standing For Business Development (Amazon ranks #1 as the dog friendliest company)
Gives Purpose to Greenspace = Healthy Parks
Promotes Responsible Pet Ownership (reduces overload of shelters & rescue organizations)
Existing Parks can be Easily Adaptable to Serve Community Needs (Low Cost with Maximum Benefits)
Reduce Illegal Off-Leash Use in Other Areas of Parks (safer for all park users)
Supports Walkability Goals by Offering a Destination
Encourages a Healthy Lifestyle (bonus: it's a year-round activity)
Reduces Crime (Renaissance Dog Park was created to combat homelessness, drug trafficking and panhandling... and it worked!)
Makes A Desirable Place to Live
Socialized Dogs = Better Dogs, Less Barking and Aggression
Atlanta Parks & Recreation is in the early phase of creating a Master Plan for the future of our parks and asking for input. The ask is simple but it’s going to take a lot of bark to get some patches for our pets!
Please support this page & email your dog park support to: [email protected]