Pups at Play

What do Successful Dog Parks Look Like?

There are hundreds of dog parks in the United States presently, so the idea to bring a dog park to Bangor is not unique. Several members of BARK, along with the Friends of Belfast Parks, have visited a number of these parks and have enjoyed a wide range of experiences. Please visit the links of other dog parks in the U.S. This is a selection of the "Top 10 Dog Parks" from last year's contest from "Dog Fancy" magazine.
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For a look at a dog park closest to home, please visit the Belfast Dog Park site.

The play area is just over an acre in size for the large dogs, with a separate area and entrance set aside for smaller dogs. The play area itself is grassy and mostly flat, although a slight rise does leave a corner of the play yard blind to those who may lose track of their dog’s whereabouts. There are benches for people to sit and a gazebo provides shelter from the summer sun. A motion-sensitive “water fountain” provides drinking water--and a source of curiosity--for the dogs, and there is also a water hose available for multiple uses in the well housing.

If you are visiting, or native to, southern Maine, Portland also has two dog parks.

About an acre in size and enclosed by chain link fence, Portland’s Valley Street Dog Park is located in the West End close to the downtown commercial district, adjacent to a heavily traveled city street. It has trees, benches, gravel, and grass (though much of it has worn away). At some point the area had been mulched, but maintenance has evidently been lax. Even though the area seems a bit shabby, it is surprisingly clean throughout. Amenities include a water spigot, metal water dishes, and trashcans, as well as bag dispensers.

Portland’s other fenced dog park, Quarry Run, is located about five miles from downtown on the site of an old landfill. The six-acre area has rolling hills, winding pathways, and a lot of foliage. There is a shelter and some benches, but there was a curious lack of trashcans during the visit. Inside the park is a smaller, fenced area, about 50’ X 50’, evidently for isolating smaller dogs or unsocialized dogs, but it lacked any signage explaining what it was for. An unfavorable feature is that, due to the topography, dogs can easily be out of their owner’s sight.

Who Is BARK? Who is BARKing?

During the summer of 2009, at least three separate groups were found on the online social network Facebook lamenting the absence of a dog park in the Greater Bangor area. The nearest public off leash recreational facility was in Belfast, nearly an hour’s drive away. The Facebook group memberships combined to number well over 300 (and are still growing), showing a strong community-based interest in a Bangor dog park. An effort was made to bring several of these interested community members together, and the Bangor Area Regional K-9s (BARK) committee held it’s first meeting on September 29th.

The initial discussion focused mainly on the experiences of the Friends of Belfast Parks, whose efforts lead to the opening of the Belfast Dog Park in the summer of 2008. That project was completed with no expense to local taxpayers, and the park has continued to be maintained through private contributions and volunteer services. Organizers reported receiving a lot of financial and logistical support from people in the Bangor area.

Some of the attendees of this first meeting had led an effort to bring a dog park to Bangor about two years ago. They indicated that one of the many concerns expressed by city officials at the time was that a Bangor dog park would attract users from outside the city. In other words, there were fears of taxpayer-supported facilities being used by people who do not pay taxes in Bangor. The group expressed the intention to deal with this concern by making a dedicated effort to raise the funds for constructing and maintaining a dog park through private sources, from corporations and citizens alike, while seeking to partner with the city in the search for a suitable location.

Equally important to those involved in the initial meetings was the need for a public-education campaign regarding the use of off leash recreation areas. Don Hanson, co-owner of Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, was consulted several times. He advised that while a dog park presents a wonderful opportunity for most dogs to exercise and socialize, it could be a disaster for others if not set up and run properly. Plans are being made to ensure that potential park users are aware of their responsibilities as dog owners before bringing their dog to the park.

Our Mission

Bangor has long been known as the Queen City of Maine. Together with the communities that make up the Greater Bangor area, it serves as a gateway to Downeast Maine and the wilderness to the north. Thousands of tourists take time from their travels to Acadia National Park and the Katahdin region to dine, shop, or just catch their breath. Every summer, the banks of the Penobscot River come alive with the multi-cultural glory of the American Folk Festival. The city is also proud of the land it has set aside for public recreation, at any of the neighborhood parks throughout the city and also at the Roland Perry City Forest.

Add it all up, and it’s no wonder that Bangor is consistently ranked one of the best small metropolitan areas to live in the United States.

Thirty-one thousand people call Bangor home in addition to 2100 licensed dogs. Based on national statistics, it is likely that the actual dog population in Bangor is in excess of 5,000--possibly as high as 7,600. Even though required by law, a large percentage of dog owners do not license their pets.

Dogs are naturally active animals that require both physical and mental stimulation to thrive. Unfortunately, lifestyles of today’s families often do not provide a dog with adequate stimulation, resulting in overly stressed dogs. It is often said that “a tired dog is a good dog,” and canines that receive optimal physical and mental stimulation are much less likely to develop problematic behaviors like excessive barking and chewing. An ideal activity that provides both types of stimulation is running and playing off leash with like-minded companions.

Unfortunately, Bangor has no formal public area where this activity can safely occur.

Many dog owners are uncomfortable letting their dogs run off leash outside of a fenced-in area. Even well-trained and well-mannered dogs lose track of their boundaries when outside their own yards, and sharing public, general-use parks with other users presents a significant list of concerns. For instance, most dogs, bluntly speaking, need to use the world as their toilet. Although the city has done a commendable job making “doggie bags” available and clearly posting warnings about the animal feces ordinance, the amount of poop that goes un-scooped presents a health and safety problem to park users in general. All concerns are legitimate and are not to be taken lightly, which leaves many dog owners trying to strike a balance between courtesy and a well-exercised pet. These concerns, along with the many associated benefits, are why hundreds of communities around the country have chosen to set aside a special place for dogs to call their own.

However, there are concerns among many dog owners that creating a dog park could ultimately lead to banning dogs from other public parks in Bangor. BARK would like to make clear that we do not support such measures.