Quote:
Originally Posted by JackB
Hi, We are looking at putting in a dog park in Ocean Pines, Md. I remember the one at the Villages being outside the Villages town limits near the shopping center. Someone on the Ocean Pines forum stated that the dog park in the Villages was a failure because after a period of time the novelty wore off and it now sees little use. Could someone please provide me with an objective view of what the situation is with the dog park at the Villages?
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Good Evening:
For personal and professional reasons, I have only checked out 2 TV dog parks. I cannot speak to whether the novelty has worn off or not, nor to whether the TV dog parks are failures.
I can speak with some authority about interest and use of the numerous dog parks here in Broward County (Ft Lauderdale), FL: quite popular and well used year-round!
My personal reasons for visiting the TV dog parks were that I am a dog-owner and, next month, a TV home owner. I was scouting where to take my dog for her to play.
My professional reasons for visitng the TV dog parks were that I am the park designer and project director for a new dog park that the city for which I work will be building w/in the calendar year.
Pardon the plug: Our park is to be named DoggyWood Park, where every dog is a star!, in Margate, FL.
I visited the TV dog parks with the intent to obtain ideas and concepts based on an assumption that like everything else inside TV, the dog parks would be something very special.
Professionally speaking, they are not, and sadly, they are not even close. But that is another matter-one that I have chosen to not comment on in posts regarding that very subject and I will not do so in detail here so as to not hi-jack this thread.
My personal observation: the main reason that TV dog parks are popular and well-liked is the same reason that makes TV wonderful: it's the people you meet there! And of course, happy playful dogs! But the popularity of the parks does not stem from the park amenities.
Back on point: I infer that the prime intent of your post was to solicit comments re: long-term interest in and usage of a dog park so you could gauge feasiblity and likely success of your park.
If you are considering building a dog park, then you already know that the pet ownership industry is huge! Most dog-owners treat their pets as their furry children, often spoiling them in ways that the non-furry child could only wish for, almost.
Dog parks meet the needs and wants of millions of dog owners.
I am not all at familiar with your area of the country but if my area of the country is any indication, if you build it, they will come.....for years and years.
Good luck!