Doggie Depot Frequently Asked Questions
Grab your friends, families, and furry friends too, and get ready for Downtown Arlington’s latest development: The Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot! As we approach the groundbreaking of Arlington’s newest dog park, here’s your full breakdown of the Doggie Depot project and why it’s important.
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What is the Downtown Arlington "Doggie Depot?"
Why do we need a new dog park?
What is the Community Placemaking Grants Initiative?
When will the Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot open?
Where will the Doggie Depot be located?
Why is the Doggie Depot located next to the train tracks?
How is the Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot funded?
How can I support the Doggie Depot?
How will the park be maintained?
What is the Downtown Arlington “Doggie Depot?”
The Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot is Arlington’s newest and Downtown’s first off-leash dog park! Doggie Depot will serve as a one-stop station for residents and visitors alike to embark on a journey of fun, fitness, and newfound friendship through pet socialization and pet-related activities.
Downtown Arlington’s Doggie Depot will include ADA access, running water, lighting, dog waste stations, separate play areas for both small and large dogs, and eco-friendly fencing with mesh openings and an anti-climb design. In addition to the dog-centric infrastructure, there will be seating areas for people to relax and enjoy the weather in the company of other like-minded friends from the downtown community.
Why do we need a new dog park?
In the last 10 to 15 years, Downtown Arlington has been experiencing nothing short of an economic renaissance, with over $100 million in investments underway just this year and the University of Texas at Arlington’s student population growing to over 40,000. The sustained redevelopment of downtown and the growth of UTA has brought thousands of additional residents and countless more visitors and tourists to the area.
One of the biggest things our residents have in common is pet ownership. Data from our 2022 Downtown Resident Survey showed that 40% of respondents owned a pet. Another question found that residents have been dissatisfied by the lack of pet-friendly green spaces. As a result, people are pushed to walk their dogs on the sidewalks near our commercial properties or other family-friendly parks, leaving waste in inappropriate locations.
As advocates for Downtown residents, visitors, and business owners, we saw this issue as an opportunity to stop, listen, and adapt to the needs of our community. This feedback inspired us to explore new developmental possibilities and partner with the renowned organization Project for Public Spaces through their “Community Placemaking Grants” initiative.
What is the Community Placemaking Grants Initiative?
Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants enable U.S.-based nonprofits and government agencies to address the inequality of access to properly maintained public spaces by working directly with local stakeholders to transform underperforming public spaces or co-create new ones.
As defined by Project for Public Spaces:
“The Community Placemaking Grants initiative was developed to give more people the opportunity to shape the places they use every day. Launched in fall of 2021, this initiative connects U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and government agencies to funding to transform the public spaces they steward, as well as technical assistance and capacity building facilitated by Project for Public Spaces.”
Placemaking is a proven approach in bringing communities and people together around the shared vision of a public space. That’s why we are so excited to have received a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces. Not only will the grant allow us to bring our vision to life and create lasting change in Downtown Arlington, but the process of involving the community itself creates a sense of ownership and investment in our downtown district and draws residents closer together.
When will the Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot open?
Phase I of the project, which includes site planning and design, is currently underway. Phase II begins in March 2024 with construction of the site’s necessary improvements such as running water, electricity, pavement treatments, and fencing.
Once site preparation is completed by May 2024, Phase III wraps up the project with the installation of additional amenities such as benches and tables, covered seating, signage, and dog agility play pieces. The Doggie Depot will open for public use in June 2024.
Where will the Doggie Depot be located?
The Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot will be located on the land southeast of the train tracks by the Municipal Office Tower on Mesquite Street. The space is informally recognized as the Downtown Arlington railroad corridor.
Why is the Doggie Depot located next to the train tracks?
The land allocated to the Doggie Depot is already currently being utilized by hundreds of dogwalkers a month. This open field presently has no lighting, no fencing, and no pet-friendly infrastructure, nor does it receive adequate lawn care. This raises increased health and safety concerns for our residents and visitors and prevents our pet population from receiving necessary off-leash exercise.
Doggie Depot will formalize the green space as a dog-friendly place where people can safely interact and connect with one another. To ensure the safety of all users, Union Pacific requires the project be setback 25 feet from the railroad tracks. The park will also feature fencing on all parts of the park, including the off-leash seating area, to guarantee our furry friends are safe from any harm.
Additionally, to be awarded the Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces, we were required to identify an underutilized green space in need of revitalization. The undeveloped land along the railroad corridor currently acts a dividing line that runs through the center of Downtown Arlington, creating a lack of synergy between the explosion of new developments to the north and south sides of the railroad tracks. This land was chosen for its great potential to weave our downtown together, transforming the space into a place of community involvement and connection.
Who owns the Doggie Depot?
The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, an Arlington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the steward of the Doggie Depot project, responsible for managing the fundraising and construction of the park. Beginning in FY25, the City of Arlington’s Parks and Recreation Department will take over the maintenance of the space.
How is the Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot funded?
The $75,000 Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces with funding from General Motors was the impetus for the Doggie Depot. More recently, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has approved a generous donation of $100,000 towards the project. Remaining private funds are currently being raised by Downtown Arlington through a private donation campaign.
How can I support the Doggie Depot?
There are plenty of ways to support the Doggie Depot:
- Represent your family or organization by supporting the Downtown Arlington Doggie Depot’s capital campaign, or by buying a brick.
- Follow the Doggie Depot on Instagram and Facebook.
- Become a volunteer to help spread the word and maintain the park!
How will the park be maintained?
Downtown Arlington now contracts a third party clean and safe ambassador vendor, the nationally acclaimed Block by Block organization, who will be incorporating the Doggie Depot into their routine security checks and cleanup efforts. The City of Arlington’s Parks and Recreation Department maintain the park going forward, beginning in October 2024.