You've probably heard the problem before: city dwellers with very little green space available to them, complaining about the problems of co-existing with dogs. They go to the park and have to tiptoe through the grass lest they soil their shoes in dog "deposits." Surprised (and sometimes frightened) toddlers get knocked to the ground by the advances of a friendly pooch left to run off his leash. Bicyclists find themselves being chased by dogs on the run.
And then there are responsible pet owners who want to share the beauty of the outdoors with their dogs in need of exercise. How do you bring these groups together in a way that will please them both? Thanks to local authorities, the people and canines of Jette, Belgium, are now co-existing contentedly. In the first project of its kind in Belgium, Jette officials created a park to meet the needs of everyone and promote the integration of pets into public areas.
Jette is a borough north of Brussels with a large population of dogs and people residing in apartment buildings that are 20 to 30 stories tall. Prior to April 1991, they all had to share one particular "green islet" in the vicinity. The land was a mess; it was overgrown and occupied by unruly adolescents and big dogs on the loose. Local residents complained. Fortunately for the locals, Jette administrators shared their concerns about the area. They used their creative powers to redesign the space while at the same time working to meet the district's other societal needs. Administrators had already wanted to encourage young couples to settle in Jette, reduce delinquency, vandalism and drug abuse, and help people develop pleasant social contacts.
With all these things in mind, a group of landscape designers gathered in the fall of 1990 to convert the overgrown land into Park Liebrecht, an approximately 1.2-acre park organized with consideration for the needs of all. Local authorities report that "the program resulted from the will to smooth the antagonism between dog-owners and non-owners by easing a mutual comprehension and respect rather than resorting to the usual repressive measures."
Their efforts have created a park where everyone can find a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. There is a playground for toddlers with swings, slides, and climbing frames. Adolescents have a soccer field and a multi-use sports field with movable equipment for basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Elderly residents of the district have an area that includes a special playing ground for lawn bowling. In addition, there is a rest area with picnic tables and benches.
What makes Park Liebrecht unique is that there is also a space set aside to allow dogs to have their own fun. Their play space is a fenced area that includes agility obstacles for obstacle jumping, a tube, a hanging tire, and a slalom course. Any dog can run freely and happily there to the delight of their owners and the enjoyment of other dog lovers. Each of the areas is separated by low hedges, which allow park visitors to feel they are still in friendly contact with others, while maintaining their own well-appreciated space.
As people enter the park, they are greeted by a sign that maps out all recreational areas. Sandpits are located at the park entrance and near the dog agility area to serve as "pet areas" and keep the park clean. These areas are surrounded by hedges entered through a gate. The park's playing fields are surrounded by a path of wood shavings, which designers say "makes the walk more pleasant and nature-friendly." The friendly feelings created by the park's layout and design are reinforced by cartoon-like signs that distinguish areas for pet use and non-use. They show the areas where dogs can run off the lead, where they must run with the lead and where they are not allowed. A fourth sign was created to designate the sandpit "pet areas." Planners say the signs are without text because there's no room for both national languages, French and Dutch. One look at the brightly colored signs tells you it's not really needed.
Park Liebrecht has drawn lots of attention and even attracts people living outside the district. Its visitors are reportedly very pleased about the design and the new feeling of security that exists there. There are no more conflicts of interest about the available outdoor space. Dog owners are respecting the signs and a kind of self-policing has gone into effect with visitors feeling free to remind each other to respect the park's rules. Local authorities had hoped for this kind of cooperation and support and early on set out to keep the public informed of their plans and progress with the park. An information campaign was launched using the mail, local news releases, posters, press conferences, and national media interviews. In addition, an "eco-consultant" held informative public meetings and an environmental commission of local residents from the different political parties was involved.
Authorities also worked with Ethologia, the Belgian Association for Study and Information on the Human-Pet Relationship. Ethologia not only worked to inform the public, but also provided essential ideas about integrating dogs into the park. Financial support for the project was provided by the district. Due to the project's success, Jette authorities are using the same philosophy and plans to redesign two more parks and some street areas. For people and pets in Jette, sharing the outdoors is finally what it should be—relaxing and fun.
Belgian Association for Study & Information on the Human-Pet Relationship
Ethologia
Boechoutlaan 55
B-1853 Grimbergen, Belgium
Telephone: 32 2 460 5727
Fax: 32 2 460 2184
Email: ethologia@ksynet.be
Image credit: Ethologia.
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