Gregory Reserve, Hove identified as potential location for first dog park in Holdfast Bay area
There is no dedicated dog park in the Holdfast Bay Council area – but that could be about to change. Find out which southwest location is being eyed off for one.
West & Beaches
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Holdfast Bay Council will search for the best location to place its first dedicated dog park.
At the moment, council has no dedicated park where owners can take their dogs.
Councillor Jane Fleming said with the Holdfast Bay area’s lush coastline, a dog park had never been set up before, because many dog owners take their pets to the beach for a walk.
But she said there was now a real interest in the community to have access to a dog park, as well as the beach, for their canine friends.
Ms Fleming moved a motion at the last council meeting that Gregory Reserve at Hove be investigated for a possible location.
She said it was an under-utilised public open space, with no play equipment and it is mainly used for passive recreation.
“I drive past Gregory Reserve regularly and in my view, it isn’t really utilised as much as it could be, so I thought it might be worth having a look at (as a dog park),” she said.
“In the last six months, especially with COVID, I’ve had a lot of people ring me about how much a dog park is really important to the community.
“With a lot of people in high density living, and without a decent backyard, having an area to go out and exercise with your dog is really important, both for physical and mental health.”
Council voted unanimously at its last meeting for administration to investigate the feasibility of a dog park at Gregory Reserve in Hove and report back with options and costs for the establishment of the park.
Another location in the council area also being looked at as a potential dog park location is Dover Square Reserve at South Brighton, with plans for that site currently out for community consultation.