Playing Ruff: Shared Rules and Communication Styles in Wisconsin City Dog Parks
Madeyln McHugh Forest Recreation
Jynx Johnson Urban and Community Forestry
Kole Monte Forest Recreation
Cody Hennings (Not Pictured) Forest Recreation
Public parks are meant for beneficial recreation, but conflicts can arise between people and even pets. In designated dog parks, it’s important that agencies effectively set and communicate rules. Discovering which policies are commonly agreed upon and whether they are effectively presented can help agencies uphold their responsibility of encouraging positive outdoor recreation experiences. The objective of our research is to identify the most frequently occurring rules and communication styles used by Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association (WPRA) member agencies at their city dog parks. We systematically tallied rules listed on websites of member agencies who had comprehensive outdoor recreation plans (CORPs). We then applied categories from the continuum of moral development to discern the use of pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional messaging. In addition, we examined presence of effective communication approaches, including providing a reason for the rules and use of humor. Our findings reveal that just over half of agencies communicate dog park rules on their website. Among posted rules, a strong core of 7 expectations emerged, with rules on leashing, waste, and aggression being the most socially agreed upon. Conventional messaging that reminds dog owners of their legal responsibility was the most frequent communication approach. Findings provide park and recreation agencies with insight into how they compare with peer organizations and highlight ways to further promote harmonious use of city dog parks.
Advisors: Laura Anderson McIntyre, Ph.D.
Subject Area: Forestry
Type: Poster
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Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium
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