Dog Parks Are Everywhere, but Where Did They Start?

Alissa Greenberg writes about the origins of the dog park, a phenomenon that started in Berkeley, California, in the 1970s, as municipalities started implementing stricter leash laws. In 1979, activists from People’s Park took over an empty lot in Berkeley that had been cleared for subway construction.

"[Tom Nigman] was happy to see that, along with the demonstrations and bail fund drives for arrested protesters common at People’s Park, the new space was frequently full of dogs playing and socializing—especially during a period when they were increasingly hemmed in," says Greenberg.

The area eventually became the Ohlone Dog Park, and resident Doris Richards led much of the effort to circulate petitions in support of the dog park, organize residents, and deal with disputes around zoning and noise pollution. As interest in dog parks spread across the country and the world, Richards became an important source of information and guidance for communities wanting to establish their own pet playgrounds.

Greenberg also delves into the impact dog parks have had on the urban landscape and development, particularly in terms of gentrification, and the shift in the role of dogs in everyday life over recent decades.

"In envisioning and creating public space for dogs, [Julie] Urbanik adds, dog park proponents and designers are building on this private idea of a more-than-human family to envision a new kind of public city. A family with children believes they deserve a playground; a family with dogs believes the same," notes Greenberg.