The WOOF Project Wisconsin Off-leash Opportunity Finder

Prepared for:

Residents for Off-leash Milwaukee Parks (ROMP)

Presentation Objectives

• WOOF Team Introductions • Michelle Dolnik • Anne Geldreich • Dammon Kroll

• Project Overview • Analysis Approach

• Criteria • Data • Maps

• Recommendations • Q&A

Project Overview

ROMP Mission Statement

“Our mission is to establish and maintain off-leash dog exercise areas in Milwaukee County, through community and municipal partnerships, where dogs can exercise in safe, clean environments viewed as valuable assets within the community.”

Project Overview

WOOF Vision Statement

At the completion of the WOOF project, ROMP will have several potential locations for off-leash dog parks to serve Milwaukee County residents who cannot easily access the five existing sites. ROMP will be able to approach the County Park system to propose the creation of new dog parks based on the WOOF project site suitability analysis.

Project Overview

WOOF Project Scope

Working together with ROMP and the Milwaukee County Parks Department, the WOOF project will determine optimal locations for additional ROMP off-leash dog parks. All locations will be currently zoned as park lands and will be owned and maintained by the County. They will also be within easy commuting distance (5-10 minutes travel time by car or on foot) to a maximum number of dog owners in the vicinity, and will provide several of the more desirable park amenities.

Project Overview

Out of Scope

Consideration of non-park land sources was determined to be out of scope:

•Acquisition of donated industrial lands (brownfields) ruled out due to the administrative effort required to rezone, and potential additional expense associated with contaminated soil remediation •Purchase of vacant land also not considered due to lack of funding

Project Overview

WOOF Conceptual Model Some of the benefits of identifying optimal locations for the next ROMP dog park include: •More options for off-leash dog park expansion and for the dog owners to take advantage of these parks •Less travel time will be required for those in areas distant from current parks •Opportunities for dog owners new to off-leash dog parks to experience the benefits of having a dog park nearby for the first time •Expansion of ROMP’s impact on the dog owner community in Milwaukee County

•Potentially increased fee revenues for Milwaukee County. (Municipal dog licenses are required for park access, thereby encouraging fee payment by dog owners who are currently non-compliant.)

Project Overview

WOOF Objectives •Identify park space which could be converted into one acre or larger dog parks by Milwaukee County Parks Department, focusing on central or southwestern sites and pre-approved parks

•Determine areas dog owners are likely to frequent based on dog license application addresses, pet stores, and other dog-centric establishments

•Create and conduct a survey of current ROMP members to determine location of their homes distance traveled to closest ROMP park, and desired features and location for potential ROMP parks

•Prioritize potential sites based on the maximum estimated number of dog owners within an easily walkable or drivable distance (5-10 minute commute), and having desirable amenities

•Deliver maps, reports and supporting data for potential ROMP park location

Analysis Approach

Park Consideration Criteria 1. Distance from existing ROMP dog parks 2. Parks having a total area >= 1 acre 3. Parks where land use <= 25% residential within a ¼ mile radius 4. Number of dog owners within a reasonable distance (<= 5 miles) of

proposed parks 5. Areas having high populations of unlicensed dogs (to potentially generate

additional revenue for Milwaukee County through licensing fees) 6. Locations of dog-centric businesses 7. Survey results (highest ranked park amenities and preferred new locations) 8. Parks pre-approved by Milwaukee County

Analysis Approach

Data Sources • Milwaukee County Parks • Milwaukee County Census Tracts/Population • Milwaukee County Roads • Milwaukee County Municipalities • Milwaukee County Land Use • Milwaukee County Lakes/Rivers • Milwaukee County Dog-Centric Businesses • Survey Results • 2011 Milwaukee County Dog Licenses • Existing ROMP Parks • Pre-approved Potential Parks • Park Features/Amenities

Analysis Approach

Survey Results • Used www.kwiksurveys.com to collect data from current ROMP

members and ROMP web site visitors • Gathered data regarding current usage and future dog park

preferences from 61 respondents • Park amenity and park location preferences from the results were

ranked

Analysis Approach

Survey Results - Amenities Ranking 1. Drinking Water 2. Parking 3. Shaded Areas 4. Hiking Trails 5. Rest Rooms 6. Benches 7. Lighting 8. Wooded Areas 9. Large and Small Dog Areas 10. Shelter 11. Hilly Terrain 12. Picnic Tables 13. Swimming 14. Handicap Access 15. Agility Equipment

Analysis Approach

Survey Results - Preferred Potential Location

Ranking 1. West Side - Wauwatosa, West Allis, West Milwaukee 2. South West - Franklin, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Greendale 3. South Shore - Bayview, Cudahy, St. Francis, Oak Creek 4. East Side - Shorewood, Riverwest, UWM, Downtown 5. North Shore - Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Bayside, Fox Point,

Riverhills 6. North West - Brown Deer, Granville

Analysis Approach

Map Analysis Progression 1. All Milwaukee County Parks 2. Parks with total area >= One Acre 3. ¼ Mile Buffer around Potential Parks 4. Milwaukee County Land Use 5. Land Use Inside of ¼ Mile Buffer around Potential Parks 6. Potential Parks with <= 25% Residential Land Use within ¼ Mile 7. Dog-centric Businesses in Milwaukee County 8. Milwaukee County Dog Population Density by Census Tract/Municipality 9. Percent Licensed Milwaukee County Dog Owners by Census

Tract/Municipality 10. Potential Parks with Desired Amenities Pre-approved

by Milwaukee County

Recommendations

Considerations

• 35 parks met our initial analysis criteria • 13 parks were pre-approved by the

Milwaukee County Parks Department • 3 parks were both pre-approved and provide

at least two highly-ranked amenities

Recommendation One

Root River Park (68th Street) • Fulfills a need for a ROMP park in the southwest section of Milwaukee

County • No existing ROMP parks are currently within easy commuting distance

for residents in this area • Park is located in one of the desired areas indicated by the survey

results (South West) • Dog-centric businesses located in surrounding area suggest a

reasonably large dog population • Greater than average estimated percentage (~12%) of licensed dogs

suggests large dog population in the area • Park includes many of the high-ranking amenities

• Parking • Restrooms/water • Shaded areas • Trails

• Park has been pre-approved by the County

Recommendation Two

West Milwaukee Park • Lower than average dog licensing compliance (estimated < 8%)

in this area. Locating a dog park here may encourage more dog owners to license their dogs in order to use the park

• Park is located in one of the desired areas indicated by the survey results (West Side)

• Dog-centric businesses located in surrounding area suggest a reasonable dog population

• No other existing ROMP parks are within easy commuting distance for residents in this area

• Park provides two of the high-ranking amenities • Restrooms/water • Shaded areas

Alternate Recommendation Washington Park

Please note this park does not meet one of our primary criteria (Park must be <=25% residential land use within ¼ mile) however:

• Park is located in one of the desired areas indicated by the survey results (West Side)

• Lower than average dog licensing compliance (estimated < 7%) in this area. Locating a dog park here may encourage more dog owners to license their dogs in order to use the park

• Dog-centric businesses located in surrounding area suggest a reasonably large dog population

• No other existing ROMP parks are within easy commuting distance • Park includes many of the high-ranking amenities

• Parking • Restrooms/water • Shaded areas • Trails

Q&A

Thank you for the opportunity!