Shared walks, safe runs and friendly surfaces - cities around the world are increasingly consciously designing spaces that take into account the needs of dogs and their guardians.
Poland ranks tenth in the world in terms of the number of dogs in households. As the number of four-legged owners grows, expectations of urban spaces are also changing. Let's start with the fact that regulations in our country include, among other things, the obligation to keep dogs on a leash and to clean up after their pets. Does this law work everywhere? Not particularly. Certainly, however, over the past 20 years there has been a difference in how we see the dog in the city. Large cities are increasingly actively adapting their public spaces to the needs of pet owners and developing dog-friendly infrastructure.
As the number of pets in cities increases, so does the popularity of places and services dedicated to their owners. More and more restaurants, cafes and stores allow dogs, and special play areas for dogs are appearing on the map of urban developments. Such solutions not only relieve the pressure on traditional parks, but also change the way the space of everyday life in cities is designed.
In the world, we can already meet walking paths dedicated to walking with dogs. They are set out among greenery and are wider than standard sidewalks, and their pavement is most often made of paw-friendly materials - gravel or mineral-resin coatings that reduce heat build-up on hot days. It's a change that seems small on a city-wide scale, but it makes a huge difference to the comfort of animals. With the development of dog-friendly infrastructure, it is worth looking at how similar changes have been implemented in other parts of the world. Many cities, particularly in North America, have been consistently implementing solutions that take into account the needs of both residents and their four-legged companions for years now. One of the most interesting examples is Toronto.
Let's take a look at Toronto
An example of such solutions is the modern CityPlace neighborhood in Toronto. This is an intensively developed part of the city, located between Bathurst and Spadina Streets, just north of the Gardiner Expressway. It was developed on the site of former railroad infrastructure and covers about 18 hectares. The district was designed as a compact, mixed-use, high-density development, with recreational areas and public spaces conducive to residents' daily lives. At its heart is Canoe Landing Park, a green space of about 3.2 hectares.
CityPlace features fenced-in dog play areas and a network of walking paths designed for dog walkers. They connect different parts of the district with publicly accessible enclosures, creating a cohesive system that is friendly to both pets and their guardians. This has made daily walks not only more convenient, but also more integrated into the urban fabric, fostering social bonding and active use of public spaces.
Dog jogging trails are being built with active residents and their pets in mind. They have a paved but resilient surface, a straight course with no sharp turns, and are marked with length information.
dog-friendly Portland
Portland's Pearl District has designed a space that fosters joint activity between people and their dogs. It covers about 1.3 hectares, and offers a range of solutions for staying active in the city center.
An integral part of The Fields Park is an off-road dog run for off-leash dogs of about 743 square meters, divided into two parts: a separate area for small dogs and a larger space for large dogs. This allows dogs with a petite build to run and play freely in a safe environment, without the risk of contact with larger, stronger animals. Convenient passage between zones is provided by a lockable gate, allowing owners to move between sections as needed.
The designers made sure that the park's infrastructure was in line with Portland' s climate conditions, where frequent rains could hinder the use of recreational spaces. The surface of the catwalks was made of sand and concrete, which effectively prevents the formation of mud and makes it easier to keep clean. The enclosure is equipped with benches placed in the shade, drinking water fountains accessible to both humans and dogs, as well as numerous trash garbage cans and stations with dog poop bags, located at the entrances and within the park.
The Fields Park is conveniently located - just a few minutes' walk from the heart of the Pearl District and other parts of downtown Portland. This makes getting to the park on foot easy and convenient, and double gates at the entrances to the enclosure provide security, minimizing the risk of accidental dog escapes. However, the park is not limited to animal space - its layout also includes a large oval grass field, a children's playground, picnic tables and walking paths. The landscaping also includes retention gardens to help manage rainwater and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
if you go to San Fransico
Other cities have developed similar ideas even further, creating specialized dog play areas tailored to the various needs of four-legged users and their handlers. One example is San Francisco, where several carefully designed spaces have been created in Mission Bay Park to meet the needs of dog owners living downtown.
Prominent among them is the Channel Street Dog Park. This park was lined with permeable artificial turf, which was designed to allow water to drain quickly and keep it clean even after heavy rainfall. The paws or bellies of the doggies were to remain clean, without mud. The space also offers convenient amenities: water fountains for dogs and people, benches, trash garbage cans and easily accessible stations with poop bags to encourage cleanliness.
The space is not free of drawbacks, however. The use of permeable artificial turf was supposed to improve aesthetics and make it easier to keep clean, but at the same time, despite regular maintenance, it tends to retain unpleasant odors, especially during periods of high temperatures. For users, this means that a stay in the park can involve olfactory discomfort, especially during longer visits or during peak sunlight hours.
Still another problem is the lack of zoning for dogs of different sizes. Unlike many modern parks, which clearly separate spaces for small and large dogs, Channel Street Dog Park leaves all animals in one common area. This organization requires owners to be constantly vigilant and skillfully manage interactions between dogs. For smaller or more timid dogs, a shared space can stress and, in extreme cases, lead to conflict. Thus, the lack of physical separation between sections limits the comfort and safety of the park for some users.
An alternative for those looking for a quieter place in this city is the Berry Street Dog Park. This is a smaller enclosure that combines gravel surfaces and artificial grass to offer dogs a variety of sensory experiences. Picnic tables have been set up at Berry Street Dog Park, so owners can relax after their pets play. The park tends to be less crowded than Channel Street, so it is more appealing to dogs and owners who prefer a quieter atmosphere.
Paws outside America
The idea of dog-friendly cities is growing not only in North America. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is vigorously introducing measures to support the presence of dogs in public spaces. The Ecuadorian city government has opened large city parks, such as Parque La Carolina and Parque Metropolitano, to dogs, while offering pet-friendly accommodations and attractions. As a result, dog owners can not only walk in the vast green spaces, but also enjoy hotels and services tailored to their pets' needs.
In Melbourne, Australia, measures have been put in place to make the city significantly more accessible to dog owners. Numerous leash-free zones, specially designated dog beaches and the possibility of riding the streetcar with a dog make moving around the city and using public spaces with a pet an everyday occurrence not only for residents, but also for tourists visiting the city.
dog life in polish city
Dog-friendly spaces are also developing in Poland. Many Polish cities have created specially designated dog parks and recreational zones for safe walks and play with pets. Popular locations include the Citadel Park in Poznań, Pole Mokotowskie Park in Warsaw and Szczytnicki Park in Wrocław. Each offers extensive walking areas and equipment and attractions tailored to the needs of dogs of different sizes and temperaments.
Compared to global examples, Polish solutions are distinguished primarily by their shorter history. The first dog run opened only in 2014 - in front of Krasinski Garden in Warsaw. The development of such spaces is linked to modernization processes and growing interest in the subject of animal welfare. In Western cities, similar places have been operating for decades and are an integral part of the urban landscape.
In Poland, dog parks are often perceived as an element of modernity and a symbol of a changing approach to life in urban space. In smaller towns, their creation is sometimes accompanied by concerns about noise, smells and cleanliness[1].
what do dog parks say about us?
Cities that treat dog-friendly infrastructure as an integral part of urban planning are building extensive networks of parks, walking spaces and activity areas. In such environments, the presence of dogs and their owners becomes an integral part of the urban view.
The creation of dog-friendly spaces, however, is not limited to improving the quality of residents' daily walks or physical activity. In many cities, particularly in North America, Australia and parts of Europe, the creation of dog runs and dog playgrounds has become part of broader social and economic processes. Such a correlation between dog spaces and gentrification indicates that the emergence of services, often luxurious, for pet owners often accompanies increases in property values and changes in the social structure of neighborhoods.
In many cities, there is a correlation between the development of dog-friendly infrastructure and the processes of raising the standard of living in selected neighborhoods. The research presented in the Mars Petcare study underscores that improvements in conditions for pets often accompany investments in public space and increases in the prestige of neighborhoods. In addition, analyses of the planning of urban spaces for the presence of animals indicate that the change in the way dogs are present in space - from stray animals loitering on the outskirts of cities to well-groomed pets in representative parks - is not just a manifestation of concern for animal welfare. It is one clear indicator of social change, reflecting the changing class structure and new power relations in urban space.
Socio-spatial analyses of dogs in cities show that the transformation in the perception of dogs - has become a significant signal of a profound social transformation. The increase in the number of well-groomed dogs in prestigious areas of the city reflects demographic changes, economic restructuring and new cultural values. The visibility of dogs and the way they are treated in public spaces illustrates the processes of gentrification and the redefinition of the function of common spaces.
The presence of well-maintained dog parks, dog runs and special amenities such as fenced yards or separate pet areas significantly increases the attractiveness of real estate listings.
Homeowners whose listings include dog amenities can expectfaster sales and higher prices - a mention of a dog house can increase the value of a property by about 3%, and a fenced yard can shorten the selling time by up to five times.
The increase in the number of dog owners also translates into increased demand for apartments and houses near dog runs, parks and veterinary services. Such locations are attracting more interest in both the sales and rental markets, resulting in lower vacancy rates and higher rental rates. Studies in the United States and Australia show that properties that consider the needs of pet owners can fetch up to 10% higher prices than standard listings. Buyers are increasingly looking for places that allow pets to be fully integrated into daily life, so both functional amenities and the social climate of a pet-friendly neighborhood are gaining in value.
The growing popularity of pet-friendly spaces is having a positive impact on local economies. Rising spending on pet-related products and services supports the growth of local businesses, making cities more dynamic and competitive in the real estate market.
Magdalena Milert
[1] Włodarczyk, J. (2021). "My dog and I, we need the park": more-than-human agency and the emergence of dog parks in Poland, 2015-2020. Cultural Geographies, 28(3), 495-511. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474474020987249.
