Survey: Dog Facility at Shaw Park Has Support

A majority of dog-owning residents sampled in a recent survey say they would favor the placement of a dog park in .

Sixty-five percent said they would be very or somewhat likely to use a fenced off-leash dog park. And 50 percent of dog owners surveyed said they would be very or somewhat likely to use such a park if it were to charge a yearly fee.

Forty-six percent of households sampled indicated that they owned at least one dog.

(Download a copy of the survey from the City of Clayton website.)

Olathe, KS,-based ETC Institute conducted the study of the Clayton Board of Aldermen. Of the 1,500 households contacted by mail as part of a random sample, 693 responded. A map that accompanied the survey placed the proposed 1.1-acre dog park location along the Shaw Park Drive parking area that is south of and several ball fields, and west of the tennis courts.

The parks commission is expected to discuss the survey at its Monday meeting.

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Among all respondents—both those who own and don't own dogs—the survey found that:

• 59 percent said the presence of a dog park near Shaw Park's South Shelter "would have no impact on them renting" the shelter.

• 48 percent would support adjusting or or shortening a proposed trail to accommodate the dog park.

• 66 percent would support the construction of a dog park if it were to be funded with private donations and membership fees.

• 56 percent would support locating the dog park along the Shaw Park Drive parking area.

Changes to the proposed trail and opposition to the use of green space were referenced most often among those who said they do not want a dog park in Shaw Park, the study states.

The survey also posed several open-ended questions. Among them: where  respondents would like to see Clayton examine placing a dog park.

Popular responses to that question included:

• Maryland School

• Forest Park