[idlewild]

So the new dog park opens in Eastport today and it looks like The Villages cheapened out. My two biggest complaints:

1) There's NO SHADE for the dogs apart from the small white overhangs for humans. So, basically it will be unusable for large portions of the day for large portions of the year, then packed at sunrise and sunset.

2) They used SAINT AUGUSTINE TURF which is meant to stay at 4" in length, grows like a weed (i.e. cheaper to maintain) but is less friendly on dog paws - especially the smaller ones under 30 lbs.

What could have been a crowning jewel for them complete with agility structures, shade elements, some artificial turf and possibly a water feature is nothing more than a bland, scorching hot, plot of non-dog friendly turf.

Call me a crotchety old man, but I have a feeling I'm not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I spoke with a woman last week up at Homestead dog park (with shade and Bermuda grass) and she shook her head too, saying she had hoped they would have made it better so the "southerners" like us didn't crowd Homestead.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by idlewild

So the new dog park opens in Eastport today and it looks like The Villages cheapened out. My two biggest complaints:

1) There's NO SHADE for the dogs apart from the small white overhangs for humans. So, basically it will be unusable for large portions of the day for large portions of the year, then packed at sunrise and sunset.

2) They used SAINT AUGUSTINE TURF which is meant to stay at 4" in length, grows like a weed (i.e. cheaper to maintain) but is less friendly on dog paws - especially the smaller ones under 30 lbs.

What could have been a crowning jewel for them complete with agility structures, shade elements, some artificial turf and possibly a water feature is nothing more than a bland, scorching hot, plot of non-dog friendly turf.

Call me a crotchety old man, but I have a feeling I'm not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I spoke with a woman last week up at Homestead dog park (with shade and Bermuda grass) and she shook her head too, saying she had hoped they would have made it better so the "southerners" like us didn't crowd Homestead.

Sad to hear that. Some of the other Villages dog parks leave a lot to be desired.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by idlewild

So the new dog park opens in Eastport today and it looks like The Villages cheapened out. My two biggest complaints:

1) There's NO SHADE for the dogs apart from the small white overhangs for humans. So, basically it will be unusable for large portions of the day for large portions of the year, then packed at sunrise and sunset.

2) They used SAINT AUGUSTINE TURF which is meant to stay at 4" in length, grows like a weed (i.e. cheaper to maintain) but is less friendly on dog paws - especially the smaller ones under 30 lbs.

What could have been a crowning jewel for them complete with agility structures, shade elements, some artificial turf and possibly a water feature is nothing more than a bland, scorching hot, plot of non-dog friendly turf.

Call me a crotchety old man, but I have a feeling I'm not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I spoke with a woman last week up at Homestead dog park (with shade and Bermuda grass) and she shook her head too, saying she had hoped they would have made it better so the "southerners" like us didn't crowd Homestead.

You're a crotchety old man.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I remember the days when dog parks didn't exist, anywhere at all. To me, it's still a very strange concept.