At Burke, the way we approach dog parks starts with the same understanding that runs through our playground work: how environments may influence behavior, what draws people in and what brings them back. That thinking applies to every kind of space where communities come together, including dog parks.
Wiggly Park in Castle Rock, Colorado, is one example of that thinking on the ground. Built with A to Z Recreation, the exclusive representative partner for Colorado and Wyoming, the park went from an empty lot to a community hub. Play4Pups® equipment gives the dogs a course to move through. Novo® Playful Furniture gives their humans a place to sit. The whole family is welcome by design.
Communities are recognizing that dog parks add something new to the mix, welcoming residents who might not regularly use a playground or visit a sports field. With so many dog owners in the country, communities have good reason to build them. The American Pet Products Association's 2025 survey found that U.S. pet-owning households numbered 94 million, more than 71% of all households. The National Recreation and Park Association found that 91% of Americans believe dog parks benefit their communities, and 55% of park and recreation agencies already operate at least one. Communities want spaces that welcome dogs, and thoughtful design is what makes those spaces work. Here are some of the design considerations behind a dog park worth coming back to for the dogs, their humans and the community around them.
1. Start with Enough Space
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends a minimum of 1 acre for a dog park, with perimeter fencing 4 to 6 feet high. That standard is the foundation for everything else on this list: separation, retreat, equipment, infrastructure and room for dogs to actually run. That's why fit is the starting point, matching acreage to a community's actual use so every consideration below is possible.
2. Separate by Size
At the dog park, capability matters. A small terrier and a 90-pound retriever don't share a play style, and asking them to share a space doesn’t serve either well. When space allows, planning distinct areas for small dogs and large dogs makes a real difference. Even a low divider with a separate gate helps control the flow. It's the same principle that runs through playground design for varying ages and abilities, because a good playspace signals welcome and possibility from the moment visitors arrive.
3. Design for Retreat
Every dog benefits from a place to step back when the action gets loud. Research on dogs shows they consistently choose resting spots that combine shade with good visibility. A shaded perimeter bench, a slight rise for visual height or a quiet corner with breathing room all let a dog reset without leaving the park. The same principle runs through inclusive playground design. Inclusive spaces need places to step back as much as places to engage.
4. Engage the Body
Active play is what makes a dog park a place worth returning to. The Play4Pups line comes in three pre-configured course levels: Novice, Intermediate and Expert. Each level includes an intentional mix of equipment like Hoop Jumps, Bar Jump, Dog Walk, Tunnel and Weave Hoops, matched to varying skill and ability levels. The design treats varying skill and ability as a starting condition, so a community can select the course that fits its regulars. Some dogs are athletic. Some are older or more reserved. A course that meets the dog where they are is one that gets used.
5. Let the Nose Lead
The way a dog experiences the world starts with the nose. Where humans have about 6 million olfactory receptors, dogs have hundreds of millions of them, plus about 40 times more brain volume dedicated to processing scent. Dog trainers note that 15 to 20 minutes of scent engagement can give a dog roughly the same mental workout as an hour of physical exercise. That's why terrain variety, natural plantings and edges where scents collect all matter in dog park design. Active play matters, as does slow, deliberate exploration.
6. Welcome the Humans Too
The dogs come because their humans bring them, which makes the human experience a major design consideration. At Wiggly Park, Novo Playful Furniture gives visitors a place to sit, shaded, with good sight lines and sized for the way people actually gather. Accessibility runs through this thinking. Public dog parks come with the same considerations as any public space: accessible pathways, seating that works for a range of visitors and clear entry points that welcome everyone. Other site amenities like fencing and gate configurations are worth asking about early on, so the space serves everyone.
7. The Shared Infrastructure
Some design choices serve both dogs and humans equally. Water access is often designed for both at once, a station that lets a dog rehydrate and a human refill a bottle. Waste collection stations, signage with park rules and hours, plus hooks or racks near the entry all help a park stay clean and running well. The Play4Pups system includes most of these components as standard: Welcome Sign, Waste Bag Dispenser, Leash Rack and Weave Pole. Sometimes the small additions can make big enough impacts to keep dog owners coming back. A leash rack looks like a line item on paper until a dog owner needs both hands free at the park.
Putting the Play in Motion
What playground design teaches applies to every kind of community gathering. A well-designed space respects who arrives, gives them choices, meets them where they are and welcomes them back. A dog park is another version of the same question: how to make this space feel built for everyone using it.
At Wiggly Park, the answer is a design that welcomes the whole family: Play4Pups for the dogs, Novo Playful Furniture for the humans, accessibility woven throughout. The dogs find what they came for and their people find each other while the space holds both.
If you’re thinking through a dog park for your community, taking a look at our Play4Pups catalog or requesting a physical copy is a good place to start. When you’re ready to take the next step, your local Burke representative can help you get things moving. They know the territory and the questions worth asking.