Best Dog Park Ground?

[moz205]

My neighborhood has opened a new dog park. I am not a fan of them and have never taken my dogs to them but have friends that use it. I have been asked my thoughts on what should be used on the ground for covering.

So far, an area has been temporarily set up with fencing by the city in a wooded area by me. Lots of dirt gets kicked up when it's dry otherwise, it's mud. Cedar chips have been knocked out due to the thoughts of holding the urine smell. Might be unbearable in the hot summers of New York City. I recommended pea gravel but was questioned on how to keep the gravel in the immediate area and if it would wash away during rains. This is being paid for by the locals who use the park and not the city so they're trying to keep the spending at a minimal.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[Gunnars mom]

Wood chips is what we use out here and no complaints of urine smell yet, and it gets quite a lot hotter around here than in NY.

People take turns keeping the parks up and raking and sweeping the chips. Also in spreading new chips every couple of months.

[Carol Burke]

I use cypress mulch in my dog yard and it works well and doesn't seem to hold a urine smell. It's cheap and easy to clean, replace or add to as needed.

[SABELLESMOM]

Wood chips do not hold a urine smell... at least not detectable to humans. The city might actually save $$ as they probably pick up tree branches, and clear away dead trees. Certainly they must own a chipper. The chips would be free.

My own personal belief is ALL dog parks or even walking areas that allow dogs, should have refuse cans available for owners to conveniently toss their poop bags. For a dog park? I'd even suggest a clean bagholder, in case anyone forgets. Nothing is more disgusting than a place where dog poo becomes rampant.

On a different note, where dogs do not go in our area, are local play grounds. All of them have wood chips. They desintegrate into mulch and you simply put new chips down. Very easy and cost effective.

[l777]

All dog parks that I have come across over here are just grass - it's never occurred to me that they could have any other ground cover!

[Gunnars mom]

In several areas where I live there are many containers of "Poop Bags" free to all with trash cans nearby. All of the dog parks have poop bags, trash cans, water bowls, kiddie pools (For dogs), and several boxes of toys.
Even the beach has a "Poop Bag" dispenser.