An Indiana dog park has an eight-month waitlist for some real estate on its lawns. Unbelievably, the waitlist to join the Carmel Central Dog Park includes 651 dogs.
A Hot ‘Dog’ Commodity
Carmel is in Hamilton County; the northern apex of Indianapolis’ sprawling suburbs. With a population of over 340,000, Carmel Central is the only dog park for the entire county. As a result, IndyStar reports how neighbors in Westfield, Fishers, and Noblesville have spiked demand for the 3-acre park. Complete with two fields split by breed size—plus an agility course—it’s not hard to see the appeal.
“We just have a huge demand, so it’s just trying to be upfront with [people] as much as possible to manage those expectations for sure.”
That was Eric Mehl, Recreation Facilities and Programs Director for Carmel Clay Parks. For the Parks department, the best policy has always been transparency. On their website, it warns you about the waiting list. But, membership here has a price. On top of $11 monthly dues, members pay a $45 fee for DNA testing—for pet waste ID.
The park maintains a database with samples from all its members. Using the samples, the park stays nearly spotless. Carmel Clay Parks Director Michael Klitzing says, “Our goal is not to assess anyone a fine, but more importantly to ensure that the feces don’t result in contamination of the creek and ultimately the water source for the community.”
Listening to the Public
According to Klitzing, the community has asked for more dog parks, and the department intends to open at least two more. Recently, a Parks master plan survey showed that 24% of Carmel dog parents have a need for more off-leash space. Currently, the main issue is finding land. As for the neighboring towns, recent staffing shortages are a wrench in everyone’s plans. Westfield is exploring the idea, said Parks Superintendent Chris McConnell in an email. However, according to him, “Currently, we don’t have the staff to properly manage the logistics of a dog park operation.”
In the meantime, it seems residents are happy to wait. While it might be easier to rent a backyard instead, Carmelians adore their dog park. Tonia Roudebush and her black Lab Sophie love the open space and sense of community. “We’ve loved it for years. I love the fact she can be off-leash. I love the forest, the people[,] and the safety of it,” says Roudebush.
