Park Rules

College Park Dog Park Rules and Regulations (Effective October 15, 2011)

To encourage safety and a positive environment, members are expected to obey and help enforce the following rules and regulations:

• CPDPA members use the park at their own risk.
• The dog park’s hours of operation are the same as those of Acredale Park: dawn to dusk.
• Park use is restricted to current members. No exceptions. Only dog owners may bring dogs to the park.
• All dogs must be up to date with rabies vaccinations and free of contagious disease.
• Only dog owners may bring dogs to dog park.  
• Last member to leave the park is responsible for locking the front gate.
• Leaving dogs unattended is prohibited. Owners must watch their dog(s) at all times.
• Owners are legally responsible for the actions of their dogs.  
• Dogs that instigate fights or are aggressive towards humans are to be immediately removed from the park by their owners
• Owners are responsible for picking up their dog’s feces. Plastic bags and trashcans are provided.  
• Puppies under 4 months of age are not allowed in the park.  
• All dogs must be spayed or neutered.
• Owners must stop their dog(s) from digging and are responsible for filling any holes their pet creates. Topsoil to fill the holes is located inside storage bins in the foyer.
• Leashes, pinch collars, and choke chains must be removed and left outside the play area. 
• Abuse in any form will not be tolerated in the park.
• Dogs must be leashed while entering and exiting the park foyer.
• When a dog(s) enters the park, owners must control their dogs to allow access to the newcomer (s).  
• No food or treats—human or animal—are allowed in the park at any time.
• The entire fenced-in property (including foyer/entrance) is a non-smoking area
• Children younger than 8 years old are not allowed inside the dog park; Children 8– 18 must be accompanied by an adult member. Children are discouraged from playing with the dogs; the dogs are at the park to socialize with other dogs.
• Visitors/potential members are allowed to visit the park one time prior to joining.
• Violators of these rules are subject to removal from the park and having their membership revoked.  
• College Park Dog Park Association is not responsible for any injuries or damages acquired in the dog park. This applies to all members, their dogs, and any accompanying persons. 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 911. For non-emergency calls, contact Park Police at 301-459-3232

Guidelines:  

The College Park Dog Park Association asks that association members abide by the following guidelines in the interest of human and animal safety.  

The dog park was created for exercising and socializing dogs off-leash, not for public recreation.  

Dogs behaving aggressively or barking excessively should be removed from the park, especially if the dog’s behavior is having a negative effect on other members.  

Smoking is not allowed in the park.  

No more than two dogs per family are allowed in the park at any one time. Dogs are pack animals and when an owner has more than two dogs, the dogs may act as a “pack,” which could lead to conflicts. Also, it’s extremely difficult for an owner to watch more than two dogs at one time.  

Denial and Removal of Membership

The association reserves the right to deny membership to or remove the membership of individuals who have used the park under false pretenses, harassed members in good standing, or refused to abide by park rules.  

Grievance and Conflict Resolution

Because the association has no legal authority to solve disputes that arise between members, association members who experience a problem with other members are asked to make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute immediately after the incident occurs.  

Should efforts to resolve a dispute fail, the matter should be brought to the association board, which will then conduct a meeting involving all parties in reaching an agreeable solution. Should the board not be able to broker a solution, the matter will be brought before a third-party mediator (to be agreed on by both parties).

Prospective Members

Members of the public who wish to use the dog park before joining the association may do so one time by making an appointment (by sending an e-mail to the dog park association requesting an appointment) wherein a member in good standing will accompany them to the park. Prospective members will also be given information about park rules and operation, member rights and responsibilities, and conflict resolution.