Glen Eira Council to open its first exercise park for dogs

POOCHES can exercise their minds as well as their bodies at this new dog park in Caulfield East. But is the new space next to the racecourse prioritising pups over people?

POOCHES will be able to enjoy “a sensory zone” complete with garden beds, a dry creek bed, and rocks and logs at a new dog park in Caulfield East.

Glen Eira Council’s first exercise park for dogs will also include a training area and an off-leash play area at Caulfield Wedge, next to Caulfield Racecourse.

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The State Government handed over the management of the land to the council in October and gave it $350,000 to develop it.

A BMX and skate park and community garden were considered but councillors agreed to the dog park this week after months of consultation.

Deputy mayor Jamie Hyams said it was a difficult site to manage due to limited access points, its busy location and limited carparking — but this was a good outcome for the area’s many thousands of dogs and their owners.

He said while some trees would be cut down, all healthy ones would remain.

Henry Paulet with his dog Baxter. Picture: David Smith

“There was some suggestion we were putting dogs before people but ... if the dogs are happy then the people who own them are happy,” Cr Hyams said.

There are 12,419 dogs registered in Glen Eira despite the municipality having the least amount of open space per person of any Victorian council.

Caulfield North groomer, trainer and dog lover Maggie Laughton said the park would be “life changing” for those in the area.

“There are a lot of dogs in Caulfield and they need their mind and body exercised as well,” Ms Laughton said.

“There are human gyms popping up everywhere but there’s nothing for dogs, so this is the best money ever spent.”

Ormond residents Nath Chewta and Henry Paulet said it would be a great chance to socialise their greyhound Baxter.

“Glen Eira has a lot of fantastic off-leash dog parks but the training and scramble areas will give us an exciting and challenging facility,” Mr Chewta said.

The space borders the Caulfield Racecourse and will eventually be used as the new entry to the racecourse.