Frequently Asked Questions about
Dog Friendly Areas

1. How can I help?
2. What is a DFA?
3. How are Chicago Park District DFAs established?
4. What are Park District rules for an established DFA?
5. What are some advantages to having DFAs?
6. Are Dog Friendly Areas noisy?
7. Do Dog Friendly Areas smell?
8. Some dog owners don't pick up after their pet now; won't this get worse if a Dog Friendly Area is constructed in our community?
9. Why do you want to use up park space for dogs?
10. Who will keep the area clean?
11. Who will be responsible for the operation of the Dog Friendly Area?
12. Where can I find current DFAs for off-leash use?
13. Who is the Hollywoof Action Committee?
14. How can I contact the Hollywoof Action Committee if I have questions or comments?

You can help by signing petitions for DFAs and spreading the word. You can also volunteer to help for various activities ranging from petition drives, usage surveys, posting flyers and more!

Email us at: volunteer@hollywoof.org.

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DFA stands for Dog Friendly Area. It is a separate fenced in area where dogs can exercise and play off-leash in a safe and supervised environment.

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According to the Chicago Park District:

Creating a dog friendly park in a Chicago Park is a grass roots process. If a group of dog owners decide this type of area is needed in their local park, there are a series of steps they must follow. These dog owners have to organize themselves as an official council. Over the course of a year, this group should engage in four surveys of the proposed dog area space and also conduct at least three community meetings to acquire community support. Once this community support is granted, the dog council helps to monitor and maintain the dog friendly area and advise patrons on the specific rules and regulations.

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• Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by their dogs.
• Owners must remain within the fenced area at all times.
• Dogs must be leashed prior to entering and upon leaving the area. Gates to the area must remain closed at all times.
• Owners must immediately clean up after their dogs. Failure to do so can result in a fine up to $500 (City of Chicago Ordinance 7-12-420).
• Dogs with a known history of, or who exhibit, dangerous behavior are prohibited.
• Dogs must be healthy, fully immunized, de-wormed, licensed and wearing ID tags.
• An adult must accompany children under 12; young children must be closely supervised.
• Puppies under four months old and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
• Dogs must be watched at all times.
• Cooperation between dog owners is essential.

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• Community builder: People meet there to socialize and discuss neighborhood issues and concerns.
• Security: The presence of owners with their dogs increases the safety of the surrounding area by deterring illegal activity.
• Better dog behavior: Having well socialized pets make for friendlier pets.

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Dogs do bark but we have found that they do not bark or bark very little when in the park due to being able to play with other dogs. Dog Friendly Areas create far less noise than a typical open park area or a children's playlot.

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Dog Friendly Areas do not smell for the following reasons:

• All dog refuse is kept in covered containers which are emptied 2-3 times each day by the Chicago Park District.
• Dog owners are required to pick up after their dogs or be ejected from the park.
• Dog Friendly Areas are built on impermeable surfaces to allow for thorough cleaning of the park.
• The park is cleaned every two weeks with a 10% bleach solution to sanitize the area and prevent odors from developing.

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During the regularly scheduled park clean-ups, volunteers not only clean and sanitize the park itself but also cover the surrounding area and pick up any dog refuse that may have been left. The presence of a Dog Friendly Area adds peer pressure and enforcement of the City's policy that a dog owner must pick up after their dog or be subject to a $500 fine.

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Many different people use the parks for different reasons. Currently the park has locations dedicated to soccer, softball, swimming, picnics, concerts, exercise, skate boarding, volleyball, children, nature and wildlife. A Dog Friendly Area is for everyone to use and enjoy, not just for dog owners. The people who own the dogs need a place where they can take their pet for exercise and play and often socialize there with other dog owners and pet lovers.

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The users will be responsible for:

• cleaning up after their pets
• rotating, bleaching and replacing pea gravel
• washing down the hard surface regularly
• cleaning up any waste missed by other users

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The users group will be responsible for:

• providing the Chicago Park District with a monthly cleaning schedule
• encouraging the enforcement of leash laws outside of the Dog Friendly Area
• monitoring the behavior of dogs and their owners and educating new users
• communicating regularly with the Chicago Park District and cooperating with them to resolve any problems with the operation of the Dog Friendly Area or its patrons
• raising funds for doggie drinking fountains, kiosks, agility areas, or any other improvement for the Dog Friendly Area
• holding semi-annual entire park clean-ups with the Friends of the Park, Earth Day and Clean and Green celebrations.

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• Buena Circle Park (Challenger Bark), Kenmore & Buena
• Churchill Field Park, 1825 N. Damen
• Coliseum Park, 1466 S. Wabash
• Hamlin Park, 3035 N. Hoyne
• Margate Park (Uptown Puptown), NE corner Lawrence & Marine Drive
• Noethling Park (Wiggly Field), 2645 N. Sheffield
• Montrose Beach (Mondog), Wilson Ave at the Lake
• River Park (Paws Park), 5100 N. Francisco
• Walsh Playground Park, 1722 N. Ashland
• Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen

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• Founded early in 2005 by Joe Doedtman and Aisha (Bell) Noble.
• Current Committee Members: Aisha Noble, Amy Hank, Claudia Olayo, Irene Bermudez, Joe Doedtman, Larry Rosen and Tom Killoren.

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• Co-Chair Joe Doedtman: Joe Doedtman
• Co-Chair Aisha Noble: Aisha Noble
• Webmaster Larry Rosen: Larry Rosen
• Volunteer: Volunteer
• Committee Contact: Contact the entire Committee

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