A posh park for pooches

Dog parks are generally low budget affairs, a patch of grass where canines can run free and get a good sniff of one another. But in Sydney’s west they’ve stepped it up a notch or three, creating the largest off-leash dog park in the Southern Hemisphere. There you’ll find state of the art agility and self-guided training facilities, along with a sensory garden.

The $4 million, five hectare Shale Hills Dog Park won Tyrrell Studio an award of excellence in the AILA New South Wales Parks and Open Spaces category last year. AILA judges said the bold design set a new benchmark for dog parks in Australia. They praised the extensive on-site community consultation “elevating the humble dog park from a low budget affair to an iconic piece of landscape architecture”.

The size of the park means dogs get plenty of exercise. Photo credit: Daniel Tran

The citation went on: “the sheer scale of the park inspired a bold design with carefully considered plans to maximise opportunities for visitors to appreciate views of the surrounding parklands, provide a sense of arrival and connection to the cultural values of the site. 

“The project reflects (the client’s) Western Sydney Parklands Trust’s vision to “create a place that offers diverse experiences, celebrates it’s natural qualities and creates an identity for local communities”. 

Judges described the park as an essential addition to Western Sydney’s growing population, delivering social, environmental and health benefits for people and their pets.

Dogs even have their own scented garden. Photo credit: Simon Wood.

At the park pooches can practise their poses on plinths, balance on beams and bound through an obstacle course. A scented garden with thyme, lavender and chamomile provides the perfect patch to give their noses a work out too. And there are slopes and mounds to add interest.

A fenced off area serves as a safe section for smaller dogs who may be intimidated by bigger breeds.

Western Sydney Parklands Executive Director Suellen Fitzgerald said the awards are testimony to the hard work of the Parklands staff and consultants. 

The park has proved a hit with dogs of all sizes. Photo credit: Simon Wood.

“We are committing to offering innovation and design excellence for the community across our parks, playgrounds and facilities. For this to be publicly recognised at these prominent awards is a rewarding acknowledgment and fantastic celebration of landscape architecture.”