Presenter: Tom Simonian Date: 18 March 2017 (Revised 26 March 2017) OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION DOG PARK PROPOSAL Presenter: Tom Simonian Date: 18 March 2017 (Revised 26 March 2017)

Common Area Being Considered OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Common Area Being Considered Parcel C: South End of Grass Field

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Proposed Site: Logical Site: Parcel C, South end of grass field. Flat land (Minimal preparation) Access from existing trails Ample parking Minimal upkeep Size: Approximately 100 feet by 90 feet. Allows for dog park and most sports (shorter football and soccer area) Description: A rectangular grassy area with a six-foot high chain link fence. A 10’x 10’ vestibule with 2 gates, or A 10’x 10’ vestibule with 3 gates for 2 separate dog areas. The park would contain waste bag dispensers, waste receptacles, and benches. Water to be provided by dog owners. (And Auxiliary Recreational Equipment could be provided) Adding notes to see where they end up!

Single Gated Area (Grist Mill Dog Park) OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Single Gated Area (Grist Mill Dog Park)

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Single Gated Area

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Single Dog Park Area

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Trash Cans and Bags

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Survey Issues Surveys suggest that most opposition to dog parks are quality-of-life issues, i.e., unsightliness, smells, and bad behavior by both dogs and dog owners. Unsightliness issue are tempered in the current proposal by construction of a see-through chain link fence with clear view to the water while using a powder-coated finish to avoid harsh contrasts with the vegetation while being more durable and safer for the dogs. Smells will be mitigated by our community prevailing winds from Northwest to Southeast, the distance of 242’ from the pavilion to the park, and by the Dog Club’s commitment to maintain the cleanliness of the Park with regular remove of all dog waste. Bad behavior, including excessive dog barking, will be addressed by posting and monitoring compliance with a standardized set of park rules that are used successfully in many dog parks across the nation. Monitoring and enforcement will primarily be handled by the Dog Club members.

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Unsightliness

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Smells

Distance from Pavilion OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Distance from Pavilion

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION General Dog Park Rules Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by them. Puppies and dogs must be properly licensed, inoculated, and healthy. Animals should wear a collar and ID tags at all times. (The Dog Club may issue a easily visible dog tag to visibly identify dogs owned by Dog Club residents) Owners must clean up after their dogs. Dogs barking excessively or showing aggression toward people or other animals will be removed from the park. Animals who exhibit a history of aggressive behavior will not be permitted to enter. Puppies using the park must be at least four months old. Owners should not leave their dogs unattended or allowed out of sight. Children under the age of 8 years old are not allowed in the park. Dogs in heat will not be allowed inside the park. Owners must carry a leash at all times. Dogs should be leashed before entering and prior to leaving the park. Violators will be subject to removal from the park and suspension of park privileges.

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Dog Park Rules

OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Monetary Costs Fencing: Estimates of the materials start at $3,400. Estimates for both materials and labor start at $6,700. Funding: All monetary costs of installing the fence and gates would be borne by the OFOA Dog Club members. Annual Maintenance and Upkeep Also by the Dog Club along with neighborhood fund-raisers such as yard sales, bake sales, raffles, etc.

Costs of Maintaining the Dog Park OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Costs of Maintaining the Dog Park Cleaning the dog park would be the responsibility of OFOA Dog Club members. Receptacles for dog waste would be emptied through regular trash removal, which is in the existing OFOA budget. The same would be true of periodic lawn mowing, except that Dog Club volunteers would trim the grass along the fence with weed whackers.

Obstacles to the Establishment of a Dog Park OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Obstacles to the Establishment of a Dog Park State laws * Virginia – Our research indicates no Dog-Park specific laws. County laws * Zoning code permits such parks on home owner association recreational property but only for use by association members. Fairfax County Water Authority Regulations * Dog Park permitted with an approved Shoreline Easement exception which requires an unobstructed water view and no clear-cutting (officials have assured us that the current proposal meets their requirements). Liability Insurance * No longer an issue - OFOA Insurance company, Anderson Insurance, will add dog park liability coverage to our existing association policy for additional yearly premiums of $367. This additional cost would be borne by the Dog Club.

Fairfax Water Authority Easement OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Fairfax Water Authority Easement

Benefits of Establishing an Off-Lease Dog Park OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Benefits of Establishing an Off-Lease Dog Park Immediate goal of helping to reduce biting incidents. Allow dogs to run freely and exercise in a safe controlled environment, to maintain their health and positive behavior, and to socialize with other dogs. Promote responsible pet ownership while encouraging on-leash walking to and from the dog park. Provide OFOA-member dog owners a convenient location for pet activities. Provides an outlet for dog owners to socialize.

Conclusions and Recommendations OCCOQUAN FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION Conclusions and Recommendations Your OFOA Board has concluded that the establishment of an off- leash dog park in Occoquan Forest would be feasible. Decision to continue will be greatly dependent on: Support from the OFOA membership Organizing a core group of committed dog park activists to create and operate a community Dog Club with it’s own operating budget. Sufficient number of financial support pledges by dog owners and other supporter. Dog parks exist at many locations throughout the country and locals generally consider them an asset to their communities. The Board has to decide if the current proposal will work to achieve that end.