To encourage safety and a positive environment patrons are expected to obey and help enforce the following rules:
- 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.
- Last member to leave the park is responsible for locking the front gate.
- Leaving dogs unattended is prohibited. Owners should watch their dog(s) at all times.
- Owners are legally responsible for the actions of their dogs.
- Owners are responsible for bringing their own water and bowl.
- Dogs that instigate fights are to be immediately removed from the park.
- 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.
- Owners must stop their dog(s) from digging and are responsible for filling any holes their pet creates .
- Dogs must be leashed while entering and exiting the park lobby.
- When a dog enters the park, owners should control their dogs to allow access to the newcomer.
- No food—human or animal—or treats are allowed in the park at any time.
- CPDPA members may bring children to the dog park. However, as the dog park is designed expressly for the recreation and socialization of dogs, the association is not responsible for any injuries to children. Guardians must supervise their children at all times and unsupervised children will not be allowed in the park.
- Leashes, pinch collars, or choke chains must be removed before dogs enter the park.
- Violators of these rules are subject to removal from the park and have their membership revoked.
In case of emergency, please contact the 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.
While smoking is allowed in the park, cigarettes must be disposed of in trashcans.
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.
Proposed Additions to By-laws
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.