Bark Park
Residents flocked to the Isle of Palms Recreation Center to play and relax. The ball fields at the Center especially became a popular place for people to exercise their dogs. Dogs can run on the beach off-leash from 5 to 8 a.m. Other than that limited time, residents had no public place on the Island for their dogs to exercise. City officials had a messy problem on their hands until they created the Bark Park, a designated area just for the Island’s four-legged friends.
A significant amount of fencing was left over from the Center’s construction initial construction. Recreation Department staff suggested using it to create a dog park. City Council embraced the idea, giving the staff the “go ahead” to work on the project. Staff surveyed dog parks in other municipalities, asked residents for input, identified an appropriate site, drafted a plan and constructed the park. With all the work done by employees, the City efficiently used their taxpayers’ dollars while improving their quality of life.
The Bark Park has many features which have proven to be a hit. Bleachers outside the park’s perimeter allow people without dogs to watch the action. An information center at the entrance keeps visitors informed of activities at the Recreation Center. An acquaintance gate allows dogs to sniff and be introduced safely before they play, while a special area is reserved just for smaller dogs. Inside the park, owners can sit on benches and meet other dog owners while watching their pets.
The park provides tennis balls for play as well as scoopers, trash bins and cleaning stations for owners to clean up after their pets. City officials added rakes, at the dog owners’ request, to fill holes dug by the dogs.
City officials proudly point out the Bark Park has been a big success for the island. Reports of dogs running loose have dropped significantly since the park was created. In 2005, 417 reports were made of dogs running at large. By 2007, the number dropped to only 116 reports.
The Bark Park has helped raise awareness about the importance of getting licenses and rabies vaccinations for dogs. Thanks to the Bark Park and a special event called the “Annual Doggie Day at the Rec,” more dog licenses were sold in the first two months of 2008 than in the entire previous year.
The Bark Park has become an important part of the community, providing pets and people on the Isle of Palms with a place to visit and play.
Contact Emily Dziuban at 843.886.6428 or Emilyd@iop.net