Hi all, 

Unfortunately, PRAB didn't approve our request for the off-leash dog park hours. Thank you for all your efforts in getting the signatures. We tried our best.

Here's their response.

Hello Ping,

Thank you for reaching out to us about your petition to allow off-leash hours for dogs at DeBoer park.  Off-leash dog areas or hours is an inquiry that we receive pretty regularly, and it is a topic the department and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) has looked into twice in the last 4 years, including earlier this summer.  That decision document is attached for your information.  It was also a topic during development of the Dog Park Master Plan Technical Update in 2019.  After their most recent discussions this summer, the PRAB recommended no changes to current off-leash policies for several reasons including: the safety and comfort of park goers; impacts on turf and natural resources; and strain on Rangers and staff capacity.

We understand the importance of spaces for dogs to play and socialize and do recognize there is a need for more off-leash facilities, particularly in the more densely populated areas of the city, and we are actively pursuing more fenced dog parks to help address this demand.  We recently opened new dog parks at Sanderson Gulch Playground and Zeckendorf Plaza, are in the process of creating one along Central Street (near 18th Street) with our partners at the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, and are advancing a new one at Sunken Gardens Park as called for in the recent vision plan for that park.  In addition, a developer-delivered dog park will be constructed at Vanderbilt Park.  Our current geographic spread of dog parks is illustrated on the attached map. 

I recognize that these sites may not be immediately proximate to you, but hope this helps provide a little more context about some of the considerations related to managing dog activity in a large system.  Please reach out if you have any other questions.  Thanks again for your interest in your parks!