Western suburbs welcome new premier dog facility

Dogs and their owners in Newcastle's booming western suburbs are set to benefit from the opening of the city's second fully fenced off-leash dog park.

With one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the State, Newcastle is home to more than 64,000 registered canines in need of a variety of safe spaces to exercise throughout the local government area.

The newly opened facility located at Maryland Drive Reserve features a dog bubbler, shelter with seating, informal sandstone garden beds, and extensive landscaping including trees for shade as part of stage one.

The existing off-leash dog area adjacent to the new fully-fenced zone will also be retained.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the opening of the premier facility is welcome news for families and people living in Newcastle's western suburbs looking for a safe space to exercise their dogs.

"Novocastrians are dog-lovers and have told us they want more spaces to safely exercise their canines and mix with other pets," Cr Nelmes said.

"City of Newcastle is committed to providing a variety of off-leash options throughout the LGA and delivered the city's first fully fenced off-leash dog park at Acacia Avenue Reserve in 2019, as well upgrading the existing popular area in Islington Park.

"This new space at Maryland provides a premier facility for dog lovers in our western suburbs, which is sure to be popular with pet owners who already make the most of the unfenced off-leash area within this popular reserve.

"Formalised off-leash dog areas enable people to take their dogs to a place where they can legally run free, exercise and socialise with other dogs. They also provide pet owners with a meeting place and an opportunity to connect with others in the community."

A future second stage will feature an additional off-leash area to separate large and small dogs, additional seating and landscaping as well as a formalised car park with accessible parking.

The Maryland Dog Park project forms part of the Dogs in Open Space Plan, which was adopted by City of Newcastle in 2019 to guide the provision, improvement and management of off-leash dog areas during the next 10 years.

A full list of the City’s off leash areas is available by clicking here.