CHICAGO (WLS) — Dog owners in Roscoe Village express concerns that the recent redesign of the dog-friendly area at Hamlin Park is causing injuries, which is deterring visits to the park.
According to local residents, the newly introduced asphalt-and-gravel surface has sparked worries about both safety and practicality. Meanwhile, officials from the Chicago Park District explain that the renovations aimed to enhance the park’s accessibility, maintenance, and drainage.
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“Afternoons used to see this park buzzing with people, but now it’s almost deserted,” mentioned dog owner Cassidy Kulhanek.
Regular visitors to Hamlin Park’s dog area are voicing that the revamp has not benefitted their furry friends as anticipated.
“I actually believe the situation has worsened since the renovations began,” shared Sylvia Snow, another concerned dog owner.
The park district said the dog-friendly area near Hoyne and Wellington was redesigned to improve accessibility, maintenance and drainage, replacing its previous pea gravel surface with an asphalt-and-gravel design.
According to the park district, the previous dog area consisted primarily of pea gravel, which migrated onto adjacent sidewalks and did not provide an accessible or durable circulation route. The updated design introduced asphalt walkways and gathering areas while retaining pea gravel in designated dog activity areas.
The park district said the hybrid design was intended to create a stable, lower-maintenance surface for users while improving accessibility, better defining circulation patterns and extending the service life of the facility. The park district said it also preserved permeable areas to support drainage.
Snow said she was immediately concerned about the new surface material.
“I was concerned immediately about the surface, the dark surface, that in the summertime it’s going to be too hot for the paws,” Snow said.
Other owners expressed concerns about how the redesign functions.
“The black asphalt isn’t great; the rocks don’t stay in these little cutouts,” dog owner Greg Zimmerman said.
Kulhanek said her dog, Pop Tart, has not been injured, but concerns about other dogs have kept them away.
“I’ve seen dogs get, like, their paws sensitive suddenly when they’re running through the gravel, like something has stuck them and, like, pricked their paw or something,” Kulhanek said. “We are hearing a lot of horror stories about other dogs getting hurt at the park, and that kind of deters us from coming at all.”
Zimmerman said he understands the goals behind the redesign but questions whether the final product works for dog owners.
“I understand that they did this because it’s easier for maintenance or for water runoff, and I understand that it has to be usable as well, so they kind of missed the mark on that part,” Zimmerman said.
In a statement, the park district said it is aware of concerns raised by park users and has scheduled a meeting with the Dog Friendly Area Committee.
“We have been made aware of patron concerns regarding the Dog Friendly Area (DFA) at Hamlin Park, and have scheduled a meeting with the Dog Friendly Area Committee to address the community’s concerns about their park experience and determine the appropriate next steps in alignment with our guidelines,” the park district said.
The park district said it does not actively select locations for new dog-friendly areas but supports communities interested in creating them by providing guidelines and helping stakeholders through the process. The park district said the Dog Friendly Area Committee that initiates the process is composed of community stakeholders responsible for maintenance of the dog-friendly area.
The park district also said gravel-filled concrete sections within the redesign were intended to provide controlled drainage areas. According to the park district, those sections help minimize standing water and mud, improve drainage performance and keep gravel confined to designated locations.
The park district added that pea gravel and asphalt are commonly used materials in park facilities, including dog-friendly areas, because of their durability and maintenance considerations. For dog owners raising concerns, the issue extends beyond the redesign itself. They say they want a voice in whatever changes come next.
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