Safety Is Focus Of Changes At Lakewood Dog Park

Improving safety for park visitors and canines is the focus of recent changes at Lakewood Dog Park. 

Lakewood Dog Park is a City of Lakewood public park and considered a gem of the community. Lakewood Dog Park is visited by thousands of Northeast Ohio dogs and their owner/handlers each year. Located at 1699 Metropark Drive, just south of Emerald Necklace Marina and adjacent to the City of Lakewood Water Treatment Plant, Lakewood Dog Park is nestled in the valley of the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. 

Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park, Inc. (FLDP) is the non-profit, volunteer organization that supports the dog park and suppliies amenites for park visitors. FLDP manages the Lakewood Dog Park website, Facebook page and Twitter "Tweets". Visit www.LakewoodDogPark.com to join, make a generous donation or find out about events and other dog park information. 

During 2012, Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park has focused on safety and community education. The City of Lakewood and Cleveland Metroparks have responded with improved safety measures for Lakewood Dog Park. 

ADA/handicap parking spaces are now located next to the east entry gate at Lakewood Dog Park. Moving ADA/handicap parking closer to the entry will add convenience and safety for those drivers with valid State of Ohio handicap parking permits.  

Public parking is available 8:00am to 9:00pm in marked spaces. After 5:00pm, Water Treatment Plant employee parking spaces are available for public use. Please be sure to leash your dogs from the car to inside the fenced dog park. The dog park is a popular spot, so let’s keep the dogs safe while in the parking area and around vehicles. 

The Cleveland Metroparks has also re-striped the pedestrian crosswalk many dog park visitors use to get across Metropark Drive/Valley View Parkway and enter the west gate of Lakewood Dog Park. In addition the Metroparks has added a split rail fence along Metropark Drive. Look for the fence and the trail that now leads from the Metropark fitness trail to the dog park entry gate.  

If you haven’t visited the dog park yet this month, new rules have recently been posted by the City of Lakewood. A number of changes have been made to update the rules and improve safety for both human and canine dog park visitors. 

The new rules are also available at www.onelakewood.com and www.LakewoodDogPark.com

Lakewood Dog Park Rules

BEFORE ENTERING THE PARK

1. Keep dogs leashed when outside the fenced-in dog park area. Owners and dog handlers must keep a leash for each dog on their persons at all times. If your dog is involved in aggressive or unruly behavior, leash the dog and leave the dog park immediately.
2. Dogs may enter the dog park if accompanied at all times by an adult owner or dog handler.  There is a limit of 3 dogs per adult owner or dog handler.
3. The dog park is not intended for infants and small children. For safety, children under age 7 are not permitted. Children ages 7 to 17 must be accompanied and closely supervised by parent or guardian. You will be asked to leave if children are not closely supervised.
4. Dogs must have current license and be up to date on all vaccines. Licenses, vaccine information and ID tags must be affixed to each dog’s collar and a collar must be worn by dogs at all times.
5. To prevent aggressive canine behavior, human and dog food of any kind are prohibited.
6. Dogs must be at least 4 months old to enter.  Dogs under 25 pounds may use the small-dog area.
7. Toys, baby equipment and sports equipment should not be brought into the dog park.  Firearms and weapons are prohibited.
8. Dogs in heat or pregnant may not enter the dog park.
9. Securely close each entrance and exit gate before opening the next gate.

WHILE INSIDE THE DOG PARK

1. Owners and dog handlers must be within the fenced-in area and with their dogs at all times.
2. Owners and dog handlers must have their dogs in sight and be in control of their dogs at all times. All humans and dogs engaged in altercations or aggression will be asked to leave. Cooperation between owners and dog handlers is expected.
3. Always clean up after your dogs. Be watchful of your dogs, and pick up and dispose of fecal waste. Biodegradable waste bags, tools and trash receptacles are normally provided. Please leave the park as clean as, or cleaner than, it was when you arrived. Please do not leave litter or cigarette butts.
4. Please do not use profane language in the dog park.  Civility and cooperation are expected.
5. Owners and dog handlers are responsible and liable for all damage or injury inflicted by their dogs.

VIOLATIONS OF THESE RULES MAY RESULT IN PROSECUTION AND A PARK BAN (L.C.O. 905.98, .99).