We worked with local dog experts and community members to design a new fenced dog recreation area, now open for dogs and their owners to enjoy at Plimmerton Domain.
The area is about 8000sqm and is designed for dogs of all shapes and speeds, with paths, gates, drinking water (for dogs and humans), and even a dog shower should dogs get muddy in the wetter months.
The area is for use during daytime hours only.
The fenced area is split into three zones: high energy, low energy, and a limited zone for owners and/or dogs that need a separate area.
We will be planting some areas of the fenced zones at a later date when the success rate for plant survival is high.
🐕 Keep your dogs on a lead outside the zones
💩 Please pick up after your dogs and use the bins provided
👉 Keep dogs under control and barking to minimum
👩👧👧 Kids under 16 must be supervied
🐶 No puppies, dogs on heat, sick, aggressive or unvaccinated dogs
🍲 Please don't bring food to the park
This zone is the largest of the three zones and is aimed at dogs that have lots of energy and that are highly stimulated by what is around them. The design includes pathways, planting and features to encourage movement around the space and to allow for different usages within the space.
This is a smaller zone with pathways and plantings that encourage movement around the space. This zone is targeted towards smaller or lower-energy dogs that would possibly be overwhelmed in the high energy zone.
This zone is for dogs or owners that need to use a separate area for their dog exercise. This could be for a number of reasons, including issues with a dog’s behaviour or owner’s health. Only one family or group would use this area at one time and they would be limited to 20 minutes if others are waiting.
Thanks to Tim Prebble for the drone shots showing the park below (taken June 2020).
The fenced area was completed as expected in March 2020. Planting will be undertaken at a later time when the weather is more conducive to plant survival.
A group of local pooch experts, along with Council staff members and Plimmerton Residents’ Association worked together to create the proposed design within the budget that was allocated to the project. Elected Council members were also involved and attended the design workshops.
The volunteer design group was made up of:
The community was asked to provide feedback on a second dog park for the city as part of the Long-term Plan (LTP) 2018-38 consultation. As a result of what the community said, a project to build a second fenced dog area was confirmed for the 2018-19 financial year. The community was asked about potential locations and the strongest support was for Plimmerton Domain.
The Domain will continue to be a recreation area and will be used as it currently is, other than in the fenced area. Sports groups, walkers, cyclists, schools - all who use the Domain currently - can continue to do so. For drone users the fenced area will become a ‘no-fly’ zone. Outside the fenced dog area, the existing rules for dogs won’t change – dogs will still need to be on a lead on the rest of the Domain. There are no plans to make any changes to the roadside or car parking around the Domain.
The dog recreation fenced area will become a ‘no-fly’ zone, and the rest of the Domain will continue to be ‘drone-friendly’.
Respect to our natural areas is important. One of the founding principles of the design group was for the fenced dog area to have connectivity with current and future activities at the Domain. It is important that the Ara Harakeke walkway through the Domain is protected throughout construction and potential impacts on the swamp and stream are considered and managed. Some examples of these considerations are:
Any soil that is stored on site from paths and fence construction will have silt control measures applied. This is to avoid any washing into the stream and swamp should heavy rain occur during construction.
Also, any leftover soil must be removed from site at the end of the works, rather than being spread in the area.
In one instance we have changed products because of the potential impact on the swamp and stream. To create the visual blockage between the limited zone and the other zones, we were considering using an astro-turf type product, woven into the chainlink fence. But we were concerned that astro-turf may contribute to plastics in waterways, so we will instead use a natural product to create the same visual block. Details are yet to be confirmed but we are keen to avoid plastic.
No, just a portion of the northern end of the Domain will be fenced and purely for dogs. For the rest of the Domain, the rules for dogs remain the same – outside the fenced area will remain an on-leash area.
Different dogs have different needs and the three areas have been designed with these differences in mind. Each of the three different zones has a specific purpose.
Dogs love to get down and dirty! Winter time at the Domain can be pretty boggy. Dog owners may wish to clean muddy dogs before leaving the park to avoid getting mud inside their cars or traipsing it home with them.
Yes, although there will be times in winter that even gumboots may be challenged. It may be necessary to close the fenced dog area to use following heavy rain.
The community was given a shortlist of possible locations to choose from (Plimmerton Domain, Takapūwāhia, Papakowhai Reserve or other suggestions) and Plimmerton Domain emerged as the preferred location.
If the community wish for the dog area to be further developed, this would be considered during the Long-term Plan and Annual Plan processes.
Yes, there are a number of other activities and projects planned for Plimmerton Domain. More information about current and future activities and projects at Plimmerton Domain can be found on the Plimmerton Residents' Association website.
Members of the volunteer design group have worked closely with Council officers on the design for the recreation area.
Porirua City councillor Euon Murrell turned the first sod on Monday 13 January, 2020.
Members of the group that designed, and will construct, the dog recreation area gathered for a blessing before construction began on Monday, 13 January, 2020.
