In Autumn 2023, Davies Fencing was approached by Western Bay of Plenty Council to help design and build a dog park in Te Puke. This was the first dog park to be built in the Bay.
The design phase was a lengthy yet important aspect, where we gave design advice in response to their unique and varied ideas.
We advised and priced numerous options; concrete or metal footpaths, timber or metal fencing, different obstacles for the animals, rocks, trees and shrubbery.
There were two key aspects: good drainage was important because the designated area was prone to bog. The other key aspect was safety; the entire enclosure (fencing, gates, and accessways) needed to keep in every type of dog, from a Miniature Poodle to a Great Dane.
The final design was a 300m perimeter area, with 1.5m high chain link (supplied by Bayonet) with 3.6 No1 strainers and 2.7 No1 round posts (supplied by PermaPine). The posts were longer than required, but they gave more stability in the anticipated boggy ground.
We designed a double access area at each end of the large enclosure: imagine a 3m x 3m square area, where you open a gate to walk in, and then another gate to walk out into the main dog park. The gates were custom-made and self-closing. This entrance square had five box stays, which was a design we had used with goat fencing to prevent climbing. There were approximately thirty box stays in the whole enclosure.
The chain link fence also had to be anti-climb, so along the top we used a plumbing material called congulate and ran a wire through it so it would just spin if a dog managed to jump up and put its claws on it. There were also two other gates for a mower and maintenance vehicle to enter.
The Council then asked if we could price a similar but smaller dog enclosure attached to the big one, as a breakaway area for dogs who got overwhelmed in groups. This area also had a gated double-access entrance square.
Once we had the go-ahead and had committed to the deadline… it began to rain. And it rained and rained and rained.
The land became a soggy, swampy bog, but we started the project anyway and hoped for the best. The area became a mud bath, which quickly became our dog Buddy’s paradise. The dog park was a success before it was even finished!
We started by erecting the perimeter fencing to give us a shape and then began cutting the grass inside it for the footpaths. We brought in fill to mound up the footpath and make it higher, and then placed Geo-textile cloth on the fill and metal fines to create an all-weather walking track. Then, we brought in sub-contractors to install hundreds of meters of drainage while we were working on the entranceways.
Once there was a break in the weather we installed the dog obstacles, rock formations, seating, water fountains, planting and then laid grass seed.
The job took approximately three months, and we met the deadline for the official public opening.
One year on, we personally use the dog park with Buddy and often ask other dog owners for their feedback. We have only had positive responses. People travel from over 40 minutes away, sometimes weekly, just to give their dogs this experience. Dog owners have formed new friendships, and so have their dogs; some meet up regularly now.
From a contractor’s perspective, this is immensely satisfying. We have now been asked to replicate this for five more dog parks around the district. We’re happy, dog owners are happy, and the dogs are happy – a win for everyone.
Article written by Angelena Davies
Published in the Animal Enclosures feature of WIRED issue 73/JUNE 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ
