A Belfast councillor is working with City Hall to create a 'dog exercise area' at a South Belfast park.
SDLP rep Gary McKeown says Ormeau Park is an ideal location for facility, and is working with council officers in an effort to make it happen.
He told Belfast Live: “ Ormeau Park attracts dog walkers from near and far, offering a really nice setting to get some exercise for both pets and owners.
“A dog exercise area in the park would provide a fenced-off facility for people to let their dogs run about, play with other dogs and explore within a safe and secure environment.
“Since the start of the pandemic, Ormeau Park has been busier than ever, and 150 years after it first opened, we need to be looking at ways of adapting it for now and for the future. A facility of this type would not only benefit dogs by providing enough space for them to exercise freely, but also help to make the park safer in general for all types of park users.
“Plans for a pedestrian and footbridge across the Lagan from the Gasworks make the case for this location even stronger, as the park can provide an accessible focal point for dog owners from Ballynafeigh, the Ravenhill Road and the Lower Ormeau, as well as further afield.”
Councillor McKeown is seeking feedback from dog owners and park users about the idea and format any such exercise area could take.
He added: “I’ve been working with Councillor Séamas de Faoite to look at similar facilities across the island, and it’s clear that there’s no ‘one size fits’ all model, so we have the opportunity to create an amenity in Ormeau Park that is perfectly suited to the location.
“My view is that any dog exercise area should complement and enhance the natural surroundings of the park, so include trees and grasses. It could also have play equipment for the animals, to stimulate their interest.
“A further option would be to have separate areas for large and small dogs, to reduce the risk for animals of different sizes and temperaments, although it is essential that any dogs using such a facility are kept under control at all times.
“Ive brought my own dog to Ormeau Park for nearly 12 years, and there’s a real sense of community among pet owners there. A dog exercise area would enhance this by providing people with a place to meet with their pets, which is all the more important these days given the benefit to people’s health and wellbeing of social interaction in the current circumstances.”
