Dog/s	Impact Updated 17/01 450 Supporters!!	Supporter No
Echo	This would be a huge blow to our little family.Citizens Park has been a big part of Echo's life, she's been visiting every day since she was 8 weeks old. She needs lots of space to zoom around, and pocket parks are not suitable. We need extra Dog parks, not alternatives!	1
Louie	We go to Citizen's Park at least twice a day and often more frequently. We live in an apartment without much outdoor space. Knowing that the Park was available for dogs was a massive incentive for us to move to the area and support our big boy Poodle. Without the Park available would significantly impact on our daily living. Both myself and Louie have made so many community connections, friends and neighbours.	7
Humphrey	Our dog needs to run. He is a sled pulling breed and requires a lot of exercise. Normal walking does not fulfil this easily. We live 10 minute walk from citizens park. And he is taken there most often at lunchtime when no sport is being played. Cremorne is on the other side of Richmond and would require driving to get him there for a walk in a timely manner.	10
Peaches	We take Peaches to Citizens park multiple times a week because it's a safe place for her to run off lead and socialise with other dogs. She loves chasing the birds on the oval - we have been taking her to Citizens Park since she was a puppy (last two years). She will be devastated if this space is no longer a playground for her and we as the owners will be upset because she is so happy running around at the oval.	11
Daphne and Walter	My dogs have been here every day since they were puppies this would be a huge change.	18
Coco	Extremely difficult. Coco meets her friends there so the social impact will be massive	19
Winnie	All of winnies friends go to citizens lark daily for exercise and it's the only off leach dog park within walking distance.	26
Lolli	Great community	29
Ginger	It would mean no access to a lead-free park for my dog, no socializing with other dogs and the loss of a community that significantly contributes to our wellbeing.	30
Darwin and Clyde	The park is a safe, convenient space to let my dogs off lead. They are able to enjoy the park and play with other dogs in a space where it is easy to maintain visibility and control of the dogs. The ground is flat and even, making it easy for me to walk on. I have some joint issues and cannot walk on steep paths or uneven ground without risk of injury, so this park is perfect as it is level and unobstructed. The location is ideal as it is central, encouraging broad community integration and a strong sense of inclusion. When walking my dogs here we often interact with non-dog people and families who seem to get great pleasure from the exchange: I know my dogs and I enjoy this. In this way the dogs are a great ice-breaker, opening up conversations with people I would not normally talk with, helping to grow a strong sense of community and togetherness. I would be disappointed if we were to be pushed out to the margins of community activity and lost this. It certainly would be a step backwards for the community.	31
Lucy	This would massively affect he habit of dog walking and socialisation This park is very important to many dog owners of Richmond	34
Jazmin	Going to the park is critical for my mental and physical health. My dog has no green space to run at home. I don't/can't drive as part of my disability and thus could not go anywhere else not within a very short walking distance. My dog plays fetch there daily and is timid, thus needs space away from other dogs - not a small space with many other dogs around. She also requires a frenced area in case she gets spooked and runs away. One of the key reasons I chose where I live was access to this park for my dog. I would need to sell up and move out of Richmond if I was not allowed access to this park going forward.	35
Koffee	This change will impact my dog and me significantly. Citizens Park has been a cherished place where my dog and I enjoy regular walks and playtime. It's not just a park; it's a community space where my dog can socialize and exercise freely. One of my favorite memories is watching my dog make friends with other pups during a sunny afternoon. The joy and sense of community this park brings us are truly irreplaceable. Before we started visiting, my dog struggled with anxiety and often seemed restless at home. The park provided a safe and welcoming environment where my dog could run freely, interact with other dogs, and burn off excess energy. Over time, I noticed a remarkable improvement in their confidence and overall demeanor. The opportunity to socialize regularly helped reduce their anxiety, and the physical activity improved their health and happiness. Citizens Park has become a sanctuary for both of us, fostering a sense of calm and joy that has enriched our lives immeasurably.	39
Mollie	My dog needs the exercise that we can only get from playing fetch.	40
MOLLY	No where close by to take the dog. We live within walking distance.	42
Olive	Significantly- there is no other suitable park within walking distance	45
Olive	It'll be a huge burden to have to drive to the park instead of being able to walk.	46
Andy, Graham	There is no other park within walking distance, this would be a disastrous move for the community. I've also played cricket and footy my entire life and there's no reason this oval can't be shared like it currently is.	47
Abby RIP	Some days are miserable and a walk by to watch the dogs changes my whole mind set. It is so joyous. If it helps my mental health I can only imagine what it does to the visitors from the Melbourne Clinic. I see them every morningand I'm sure I've spotted many smiles due to the fun the pups are having, it certainly does bring a smile to my face	50
Yuki and Gus	When we were in lock down, after 12 months we got a corgi puppy. Taking him to citizens park was the best dopamine hit ever. It got our family through the crushing depression of the lockdown. Just the sheer joy of the dogs playing while you had a coffee and a chat. We were new to Richmond. Visiting the park gave us common ground to chat to our neighbours. It made us feel part of the community. We made friends that we still see back from when Yuki was a puppy. Taking away the dog park is taking away joy. It's taking away community connection. It's taking away friendship between humans and pups. It's more than a patch of grass it is a community hub of fun and laughter. Please don't take away the park!	51
Millie	There is such a lack of green space already that blocking access to this park would have serious negative impacts on my dog's health and my mental health.	53
Luna and Tilley	Will be unable to walk to an off leash dog park. Driving to Cremorne is not a variable alternative given traffic and parking limitations in the area.	55
Z	This change will overcrowd other quieter parks in the neighbourhood. This will negatively impact dogs who need those parks to be relatively calm and quiet in order to not be overstimulated	56
Satchmo and Reggie	It's such a lovely big fenced in park where our pugs have a chance to run around off lead and play with other dogs. The other parks near us are either closed in and tiny or large but not fenced.	58
Wilson	Citizens park is great as it is well fenced minimising any chance your dog can run out on the road. Also very social off lead spot.	60
Cinch	This is the best spot for socialisation for dogs and we head there every day, sometimes even late at night because it feels so safe and central. It's also great when Cinch is being minded by my mother as she feels safe to have her off lead due to the fences and short distance from both our homes. My kids often play in the playground or sometimes loiter inside the park to meet and pat other dogs in a safe environment.I also love to stop by Little Green Obsession and Coles Richmond Traders while in the area. Both of which are well set up for dogs (courtyard at Green Obsession, and area with leads at Richmond Traders).	62
Rueben	I have a toddler and a dog , this would park provides my family the opportunity to be together and enjoy the community	63
Mr Fluff	Citizens park is more than a dog park for so many people- it's a community hub and social venue. Dogs and humans alike congregate here daily at similar times and meet new people. It is also important to local cafes eg Thousand Blessings where so many of us get coffees and breakfast before/ after dog walking. If dogs were no longer allowed on citizens park the next closest place would be a drive to Como Park which would negatively impact the environment and traffic situation in Melbourne and make Richmond a much less attractive place to live for so many people.	64
	There are too many dog owners who are living in apartments with no backyard. Citizen park has been a great playground for dogs to run freely and socialising with other dogs. My dogs are always so happy to come to the park.	67
Reg, Mo	Less off lead time.	68
Bailey and Hudson	Citizens Park is the only place close for me to exercise my 2 border collies before I head to work in the morning. Access to a suitable off lead area was a key criterion for moving to this area of Richmond nearly 10 years ago. Please don't take away my dogs' only way of getting the exercise and stimulation they need every day.	70
Frankie Otis	We need a safe and gated space in Richmond to take our dogs for a walk without a lead. This is the only gated space in Richmond that we can walk to with gates/fence.	71
George	I frequently walk Citizens park and it greatly improves my general health and wellbeing to have a green space in such close proximity. The dogs absolutely need this space and it makes Richmond a destination for people in surrounding areas to meet at the dog park - not allowing dog/dog owners access will not only impact individuals but businesses that are neighbouring the park.	72
Daisy	Citizens park is a great local spot to bring the dogs down to run around and socialise. Our Daisy is high energy so I love citizens park to let her off so she can run as fast as she can and I know she is safe.	74
Cocoa	It's a great space for safe dog socialising with the fence and always an abundance of four legged friends to meet. It really helps with combined Saturday morning market visits and dog walks. My son also played in the park his whole life from a toddler going to play at the 'yellow' park, through cricket blast and RUCC, and throughout his Richmond high school time. There's always been contention and compromise. It's not perfect but it's not wrong either. The only real difference is that the population in Richmond has grown a lot. But so has the rates income. A new park is welcome and needed but restricting access to existing facilities is not.	75
Myf	I live just down the road and coming to the park is my dogs favourite thing in the world. We can't even say the word Park without her getting excited. I come here multiple times a week and she has the time of her life and we get to meet other people who love their dogs just as much. 99.9999% I see happy dogs and responsible ownership. Having an enclosed dog park so close has been a life saver. I take her on a walk each day but nothing beats her running around with her friends. Citizens park is helping dogs socialise, in turn making dogs better behaved dogs when they see other dogs in the street. So many people socialise with their dogs and it's a great spot for new people who move to Richmond to make new friends.	78
Hugo	This will greatly effect my dogs chance to run and play with other dogs as it is currently walking distance and with good availability. Small houses on small blocks and apartments do not have enough space for dogs to be able to run carefree	80
Larry	Citizens Park is our closest fenced and off leash area. Larry is a rescue dog and overcame a lot of his shyness by meeting other dogs at the park and running around freely without the risk of him running away. We often spend Saturday mornings at the market followed by a trip to the park and it's an ideal spot for us to catch up with our friends who live in Richmonds. I don't see why the sports club and the residents can't just share the space which they have always done.	82
Cookie	My dog would be subject to parks with potential dangers like snakes etc.	83
Kronk Robertson	We love the dog community at Citizens and have always thought it was such a shining example of a park that is constantly utilised and is well loved and respected. The park being out of action or designated as not dog friendly would definitely affect our decision to remain living in the area.	85
Charlie	Devastating. Charlie loves it. And it is a vital Opportunity to meet. This is a COMMUNITY park. The lungs of Richmond.	86
Panko	We don't have a car so it's important that a new dog park is walkable distance for us, otherwise I won't have access to a park big enough to let my dog run off leash and get some decent exercise.	87
Girlie and Mundie	My partner and I go there every day with our two little dogs and have done for years. We have made good friends who we see every day and our dogs are very close to their dogs, they are family.	91
Waco	Not having any large suitable parks or green spaces nearby to me will severely impact my and my dogs access to essential exercise and interactions. It would require me to drive to the proposed new location. I don't have a car so that would not work. Dogs need this large space and in this location in Richmond. There is such minimal green space in Richmond already, so taking that away from dog owners will be cruel to them and their beloved pets. It's a great space, always there meeting other locals, and everyone does the right thing by vacating at sport times and cleaning up after their dog. When you build a large amount of new apartments, you need to allow for those residents and their pets to have more access to exercise areas. Leave Citizen's as it is, but feel free to still build the new exercise area as I'm sure residents south of Swan St would love that.	92
Emma	When we (Emma (dog) and I (human)) moved to Melbourne, Citizens Park was integral in meeting new people and making new friends (humans and dogs). Its role in community connection cannot be overstated. There is too much argy-bargy between the 'two camps' (dog people and sporting people). Inattentive and careless dog owners don't represent all users of the park with dogs just like aggressive sports people don't represent all sports people who use the park. I'd like to see a bit more personal responsibility, respect and consideration helping us to achieve a peaceful solution for a space that offers so much to so many.	93
Jimmy	Jimmy and I are able to walk the citizens park morning and evening during winter and summer as it's the closest large space for him to be able to walk and get out. Living in an apartment he has limited green space to be able to play run and get sun. As we have an apartment and isn't able to play unless I take him to to park. Citizens park is the only park that has a fence for him to be able to be off lead and play. Not only that as a social aspect I meet many other friends in the Richmond community at that park as we don't drive it's not possible to drive to another park	95
Sherlock	There are so few open spaces that allow our pups to play. We have out own dog and also foster guide dog puppies. Use of Citizens Park allows us to train our dogs in a safe environment and enjoy the outdoor activity we are all encouraged to pursue.	98
Freya	It's always been a great spot for us to go after the market and spend time seeing friends.	99
Tammie, Murray	If you close Citizen's Park to dogs, people in Northwest Richmond who want to run their dogs off-lead will find other spaces to do this. These spaces may not be safe or authorised by Council, which creates a risk for their dogs and for anyone else who doesn't want to meet an off-lead dog in an unexpected location. We already see this with increasing use of the housing estates for off-lead dog runs. I'm sure this will get worse if you close Citizen's Park. Our own dogs are rescues who are frightened of off-lead dogs, so we don't want more off-lead dogs in random public spaces. Citizen's Park is great because it means people who want to run their dogs off-lead can do so safely in a controlled environment. We've lived in Richmond for over 10 years and walk past Citizen's Park multiple times each week. Every time (if no sports are on), it's full of happy, playful dogs and people sharing the joy of pets and building a community. Please enable them to keep enjoying Citizen's Park so we can keep enjoying other green spaces.	100
Harlow	As a rate payer whose money contributes to the upkeep of this park, the park should remain inclusive for all. Designated times for sports and free use at other times. Richmond is becoming increasingly more dense and open spaces should be shared.	103
Bobbi	Citizens is the only fenced off dog park in the area. It provides a wonderful meeting place for our community and the dogs love it. There is no other appropriate option for those who wish to be safe and not have the dogs able to run on the street.	104
George	There is no other park this side of Richmond, it's a great community of people and dogs respectful of the shared community facility.	105
Gregory and Walter	They will no longer have a place to be taken that can be a quick run for their health and wellbeing! It's not easy as a single young professional to take the dogs out multiple times a day which is what they need and deserve when a suitable park is so far away! One of my dogs is very anxious and requires a fenced area as he is easily startled!	107
George Millie	I walk my dogs on the street as one is leash reactive after an incident with another dog (not Richmond). We already go at 5.30 in the morning to reduce the number of other dogs we pass. I know of others who use the streets due to having reactive dogs. I see how many people / dogs use Citizen Park and taking it away from the community would significantly increase the dog owners walking their dogs on the streets and it's already an anxious time while we try to work on correcting the damage done to my lovely boy. I hope one day we can return to using dog parks and access to Citizen Park was one of the reason I bought where I did,It's the only safe feeling, decent size park in walking distance and enjoyed by so many citizens, creating a wonderful community where dog owners can meet other people. I joke with my friends that Richmond has more dog owners than children and Council should work to support that.	108
Jasper	It will have a huge impact. Citizens park is a safe environment for the dogs to socialise and exercise with other dogs. This is really important for a well mannered, happy dogs. As most people who live in Richmond only have small outdoor spaces (or none at all) it is vitalthat there is a green space that is safe. It is also a place where people chat together and have a sense of belonging to a community, which again is such a positive thing for everyone. It has been heard on more than one occasion at the park while watching the dogs 'Isn't this the best way to start the day!�	109
Ruby	I have just had a baby and it's hard to walk my Labrador with a pram so the park is my saviour. Ruby can run around and get rid of her energy and be social with other dogs. To move this place far away I would never get to take her out and that is not an option. Living inner city is about shared space so we just have to come together and work together	114
Gus	Citizens Park is one the main dog parks we visit each week. We have friends who we meet there and the social interaction for both us and the dogs is very important and valued.	115
Bear	It will mean that I will need to use a car to take my dog for exercise on a daily basis. I can walk to citizens park easily. This will inconvenience myself and make it almost impossible to go to a lead free park as I'm assuming parking will be an issue if it's in cremorne!	116
Kane	Given that citizens Park is the one fenced/secured dog park in the local Richmond area, it would possibly mean that Kane would miss the opportunity to play with other dogs in the local area unrestricted. Whilst always supervise it's a great opportunity for them to socialise and roam off lead.	117
Lola	My dog and I have been going to the park for 11 years and have formed many friendship groups which have the potential to change if the park closes to dogs. This is likely to impactmy mental health. Lola looks forward to seeing dogs she knows and having a free run at the park.	119
Humphrey	We have a very small back yard with not enough space for our dog to run around. The park is the perfect distance away from us, has plenty of room for him to exercise, and importantly socialise with other dogs. There is a great community of dog owners that frequent the park some of who have become very good friends of ours. In Cremorne there is no green space, so I can't imagine where this proposed new location for the dog park could be.From what I have seen, proportionally there are more dog owners than people playing sports, it seems like a strange decision to punish dog owners for a small group of people who play minors leagueor school sports. Moving the location of the dog park means that dog owners will be getting in the car to drive to the dog park as it will be too far for the majority of people to walk, creating more carbon emissions which is inappropriate during a climate crisis.	120
Barzal	Citizens Park is the main area our dog gets a run off the lead everyday. Without it he wouldn't be able to have an area to get off the lead and run with other dogs on a regular basis.	122
Norman and Betty	Citizen's park is like a second home for my dogs and I. They get to socialise, get some exercise, and be out in some greenery. It's convenient, and a great size. It's so central, and enables me to do my errands as well.	124
Taco and Toby	It's one of the only safe off lead parks as it's gated.	125
Gretel	After 25 years living away from Melbourne, I returned 4 years ago and moved to Richmond for the first time. I live in a townhouse with no garden to speak of. Citizens Park not only provides a safe, relaxed place for my dog to exercise and play, but owners also socialise.We have made some wonderful friends and that makes for a very strong sense of community in Richmond.	128
Maya	Impact me: mental health decline as loose social element that walking dog with other dog owners in citizen park gives. Impact dog: less walks, more walks on street, less off lead - poorer wellbeing	130
Daisy	Our favourite place since Daisy came into our lives! We couldn't live without our runs and frisbee at CP!	131
Oscar	Exercise and socialising	133
Archie	Complete lack of accessible green space in the area, especially for apartment owners.	135
Oscar	We recently bought in Melba ward and one of the major draws was having citizens park nearby to exercise our dog (and ourselves) as we have limited outdoor space at our new home. When we were looking at properties we were blown away by the community at Citizens park and how well utilised the park was by owners all the time. Once we moved in we very quickly noticed the obvious tension from the cricket players and the quite obvious resentment towards sharing this PUBLIC space (like the dirty looks as they laconically pack up 45min after their full day booking) Without Citizens park there is nowhere nearby that we can safely and responsibility exercise our dog. This a beautiful and engaged community of Citizens and rate payers from all walks of life who come together and socialise. I suspect for some dog owners who are differentially abled it is the main chance to interact every day. Please don't take this away from us and lock away the park for the benefit of an entitled few,any of whom probably don't even live near the park.	136
Alira	1, We find it a good community connection space for people and dogs and losing this would feel like a loss of places for coming together and community feel. 2, There is a lack of suitable dog spaces in the area where dogs can exercise and engage.	137
Bear	We meet friends. Our did meets his friends. Let's not lose our community	138
Buongiorno	Limits opportunity for off lead walks in the neighbourhood. It makes me question why I pay a pet rego fee to Council annually.	139
Yodz	Our dog loves citizens park. He has made amazing friends over the last 4 years. I think it would he sad to see the park go to waste 70% of the time. It's also the only large, fenced off-lead area for dogs to enjoy in our area.	140
Monty, Max, Renee, Cody	I use Citizens park for exercising my dogs when I get home from work.	141
Harley	We live in an apartment, Harley loves to play with his friends but also more importantly its where can go toilet. Closing this will be huge loss not only to him but also to us and how much we love this area.	142
Zeffa fisher	We would be loosing community connection.	145
Suki	I have formed great friendships and an important support network by coming to citizens park with my dog over the years. As I live mostly on my own, I highly value the ability to socialise at the park;it's crucial for my mental health. The people I've met through my dog walks at the park are a great support; we help each other out when needed and this gives me an important feeling of community and belonging. Countless times I've been asked by people from the hospital nearby whether they can pat my dog and stopped to have a conversation. The dogs presence lead to significantly more social interactions and helps to bind to community together. There is significant research on the benefits that dogs bring to the community.(https://phys.org/news/2022-03-dog-social-bonds.amp). Taking away the ability for us to meet with our dogs at Citizens Park will have a significant negative impact on our community ( both dog owners and non dog owners) in Richmond. Please don't take away the off leash dog park at Citizens Park.	146
Charlie	This is the only fenced off area for my dog to go and socialise with other dogs. I feel comfortable letting him off the lead as I know he won't get out. I also like to go and socialise with others, to be out in a safe environment. If this park was gone, I don't know what I'd do. There aren't any other parks like this anywhere close to me.	149
Harry	One of the reasons we moved here was the ability to let Harry get to know the community of fellow dogs that daily use citizens park. Without it we don't have access to a park or that community and will have to drive somewhere else	151
Kenzie	My cairn terriers and I have been very regular users of Citizens Park for well over 20 years.For me it is one of the best aspects of living here in north Richmond and I really appreciate the councils support and maintenance of the park. The dogs and locals who use the park are friendly (unlike many dog parks with more big and aggressive dogs) and as a result, being able to have worry free off lead play there with my and others dogs is great.Its location is great too - it's wonderfully adjacent to the Saturday market and bridge road shopping strip, street book library, thousand blessings - and so visiting the park is a really nice part of a walk around, encouraging getting out and about engaging in these, etc. I'm not quite as young as I used to be and live on my own since my husband died, so I really appreciate that it's within walking distance for me and helps me get out and meet others in the local community casually in the park.This became particularly important during the COVID lockdowns when so many of us relied on it to get out of the house for a while into the green space and open air.But its ongoing importance in helping to alleviate social isolation and keeping us locals exercising should not be underestimated. I used to use the Yarra Trail track by the river to walk the dog as well, but that has become considerably more problematic with the fast moving bicycles that now 'share' the track.In contrast, while it's not without some challenges/compromises, the sharing of the park between dog owners and sports users works surprisingly well, with the sporting members only using it a relatively small proportion of the time and dog owning members of the local community getting a lot of use from it at other times.I think it's more than fair that community facilities like this should be shared amongst different parts of the community where ever reasonably possible. I don't know what the numbers would be but the relative numbers of members of the local community using the park for exercise and social interaction would be significant.Our dogs are so much more a part of our lives now. I will be heartbroken if the dog park is moved away from me.	154
Gerri	Walking my dog is not only just excerise for him but also an essential airing for myself. The off leash area allows him to let out energy and angst. Otherwise, and as proven from routine, reduces his barking and bad behaviour, which my neighbours really appreciate.	155
Bentley	We go every Monday and meet with our friend for a weekly catch up after work , without citizens we don't have a place close to catch up and let our dogs play off leash in a safe environment. Citizens is big enough too that you are able to keep a good distance between your dog if it's smaller and bigger dogs.	156
PP	My dogs have a community at the park and so do I. It's a way of catching up and hearing about all the things that are happening in Richmond and around the world. I would be lost without our daily trips to Citizens Park	157
Teddy	I don't rely on Citizens park for exercise or attend all the time however it's a good alternative for a play and run for my Golden Retriever. If the weather is too hot dogs need grassed areas for play and to run off some energy also if it's about to pour with rain and we don't have time for a big walk I will walk him there and let him have a run around so he t least gets some stimulation and burns off his energy. Currently I'm injured and can't walk him far, I can throw him in the car and let him run around the park for his daily exercise. This is not ideal for me but as I live alone and can't rely on ppl to walk him it's a great alternative. There are so many dogos that live in apartments in our community and we have limited areas for them to be off leash as it is, it will make the other parks/areas to be overrun with dogs off lead which makes for more dangerous encounters for on lead dogs and children. Not to mention dogs being isolated in apartments and not getting out and about will crate for a more disruptive and no doubt noisy neighborhood as so many bored pups are locked in small courtyards and apartments. Let's face it some owners are quite lazy and rely heavily on taking their dogs here multiple times per day! We are nearby the river and in summer it's too high risk with snakes to let them off lead reducing the number of areas that they can play in as well. I've never myself had a bad encounter at Citizens park however have witnessed some bad pup parenting for sure! Unfortunately it's a small number that makes the experience unpleasant. I personally don't want to see the dogs of 3121 being kicked out of the park as it will hurt the community on a larger scale!	158
Uma	I don't have a big backyard so rely on Citizens Park for my dog to run around and socialise.	159
	Visits to the dog park are what I look forward to most. Such a community of people and dogs - it would be absolutely devastating if this facility was taken away from us.	160
Billy	Only walk around oval as have a greyhound who is never off lead. Often see friends and delight in seeing other dogs and owners having a good time. A real community meets there.	161
Addie	Being a first time fur mum, Addie has been able to social and meet other owners and dogs here at Citizens park. Its very friendly and safe for dogs.	163
Rupert	I have lived in Richmond for 50 years, we've always had dogs in our family. Having access to CP is an important part of our dog social behaviourand such a benefit for my mental health. Being outdoors, connecting with other dog owners is fantastic. It's a connection to our community, there are people l know only through bringing our dogs to this park.	167
Leo	Less socialisation for my dog and I, less exercise, less sun, loss of sense of community	168
Ruby	Long established convenient community benefit being removed will mean the need to adjust to a new less desirable routine	170
Abigail	Our dog is small and old and our daughter also walks dog on her own	172
Ember	Citizens is a safe, fenced environment with enough room for dogs to get the proper level of exercise they require for their health. As well as socialising activities, for well adjusted dogs that benefit the whole community. There are no other parks in the area that would serve as a replacement.	174
Ruby	There will be limited options for me to take my dog out for a play as I live in an apartment	175
Scout	This is one of the few walking distance areas for my dog to be off leash and run around and socialise with other dogs. The surrounding area has many apartment dwellers/ dog owners and the park is important for the dogs and owners and also for dog socialisation so we have a friendlier community.	177
Tilda	Absolutely no green space to exercise my dog in safety with fencing.	179
Issy	Citizen Park has always been for all residents in Richmond - kids playtime, school activities, organised sport, community events and an outside space for people to meet, picnic and enjoy time with their dogs. The park is also used by Melbourne Clinic for supervised care & support to inpatients. Many friendships have been formed during all of these occasions. Feeling a bit sad - head to Citizens Park to have a chat, to watch cricket, football, or pat a dog. My children have grown up playing sport at Citizens, walking our dog, and enjoying community events. Together this space has become glue for our local community. As inner-city communities find their way with changing demographics it's vital that residents are consulted, engaged and lead the impetus for change. And we have dealt with the sport vs dog issue so many times - so many of us are co-users of this space. Not sure why this is even coming back on the Council agenda. Surely we have many other items to be considered.	183
Joker and Bailey	This decision to remove the dog park at Citizens Park will have a significant negative impact on me, my dogs, and our entire community. We've been using this park for years, and it has been a reliable, safe, and positive environment for OUR dogs. Its gated area provides a secure space where they can play freely, and its location is within walking distance from my home, and many others making it easily accessible. It is selfish and inconsiderate to take away something that has been in place far longer than the sports club. The dog park has been in place long before the sports club, and it has become a central part of the community. The community in Richmond is strong and active, and removing this space would disrupt a well-established balance. The sports club already uses the field for their activities three times a week and every Saturday, but the park is used daily by dog owners who rely on it. The proposal to take away the dog park ignores the long-standing relationship the community has with this space and disregards the needs of those who use it regularly. It is unreasonable to make such a change that will have far-reaching consequences for a large, engaged community. Taking away this vital space is an unjust decision that disregards the needs of our community. I, along with many others, will not stand by and allow this to happen without a fight. We demand that the dog park remain intact for the well-being of our dogs and the continued strength of our community.	184
Hazel	Our dog hazel loves citizen's park, she loves running around in the morning with all the other dogs, it's such a positive experience for her and the community	185
Beau	We take our Golden Retriever to the park so he can safely run off-leash, burn off excess energy, and socialise freely with a variety of other dogs. Off-leash interactions offer a level of freedom and engagement that on-leash encounters simply can't replicate. This is the only park in this part of Richmond that provides such opportunities.	186
Pickles	There will be only the streets to walk.Our dog is senior and the park is his daily exercise. We meet so many people	188
Beau	It will limit access to only unsafe areas or to areas not accessible / close enough for walking. It will also eliminate the great community spirit that is alive amongst dog parents and their dogs at Citizens Park. It is a true community spirit that should be encouraged and supported, not threatened.	191
Kepler	It'll prevent us for enjoying time with the community and to take our dog to an open space, there aren't many places to share with our dogs. We have a dog that needs space to run and chase his ball!	192
Cinch	We will miss socialising with school friends and their kids and dogs after finishing school at Richmond West. We'll have to go to yarra bend park	193
Hazel	It's a social centre for all dog owners, especially those who are cramped in apartments like we are � it's so nice to have somewhere close to go that is open and fresh, especially since the construction at Annette's Place and Victoria Gardens has taken away more green space near our building. Green space is for ALL residents of the council, not just those who use it for sport. Please stop taking away green space from dog owners and residents, it's safer for dogs feet and socialising that they have a fenced green area like Citizens Park.	194
Doug	Our dog won't be able to be exercised off lead in a safe, snake free environment.	195
Jenny	This is our local park where I can safely have my dog off lead with my young child. It is the highlight of our day and has allowed me to build I sense of community though the people I have met	199
Violet	The council allowed the development of the site on River boulevard behind victoria gardens where we took our dog. Developers are being given every green space. We need to have some free space for people and dogs. Please don't take citizens park from us as well.	200
Miso	We purchased our home to be in close walking proximity to Citizens Park, which acts as a community hub and supports our growing family. Citizens Park is more than a park, but a safe place for dogs and families, and a place where our family has made lifelong friends, people we never would have met if it wasn't for our fur babies.	205
Blue	The dog park has been a game-changer for my dog, Blue, and for me. It gives Blue the opportunity to be social, playful, and happy, which has shaped her into the friendly dog she is today. Living in an apartment, we don't have a backyard, but the dog park has filled that gap, giving her space to run free and enjoy life. It's not just a place for dogs; it's a space where owners like me connect, share stories, and build community. If the park were to close, it would take away so much joy and connection�for both the dogs and their humans.	208
Yuri	Citizens Park is the closest, fully enclosed off lead space near us. It's vital for our dog to socialise and exercise.	209
Willow	Will not be able to meet with friends and give dogs a place to exercise off leash. Citizen park is great for dogs to socialise	210
Mochie	I don't have a drivers license so it would mean just walks around the block with the lead no socialising with other dogs. This would have a massive impact Make me forfeit my Dog.	211
Bowie	This decision will significantly affect our ability to walk and socialise our dog with others in the community. Currently, there are no alternative spaces in the area for dogs to exercise and interact safely. Removing access to this space will not only impact our pet's health and well-being but also disrupt the sense of community among local dog owners. We urge the council to reconsider and preserve this essential area for our pets and the neighbourhood.	213
Oslo	We will have to get in the car to exercise him off lead - and travel to potentially less safe parks - I am female and often walking him alone in the early morning or late at night when the sports training has finished.	214
OSLO	Working long hours this will impact my dog routine since I have to travel elsewhere instead walking to the park	215
Eddie	Citizens Park is a true source of joy for those staying at the Melbourne Clinic private psychiatric hospital. To be able to go there and watch the dogs play and to talk with their dog owners. It is a source of good mental health for those who are struggling with their mental health	216
Annie and Tilda	Citizens park is not just social for the dogs and a hugg play area for them. It's a great place for the adults to gossips and talk to actuall humans. Shock horror this happens!	217
Impi	This is the local park. I go there to safely socialise my dog and to see the friends that I have met from walking my dog there.	218
I don't have any dogs currently	I love seeing all the dogs happily playing- this facility is needed and used by hundreds of people and dogs	219
Milly	There is nothing else this close for our dogs to be off lead	220
Milly	We bought our property to he in close proximity to citizens park so our dog will have close access to off lead area	221
	While I don't have a dog, my partner and I love being able to walk past at almost any time of day and see dogs playing with each other and being cute in Citizens Park! It's just a great way to feel cheerful and walk past the park while on my way home from work or on a weekday/weekend evening. Moving off-leash areas further south to Cremorne would waste valuable public green space as sports teams don't use the ground for most of the day, and mean us and others loose a close by off-leash to either use or enjoy.	222
None	I don't have a dog personally, but I know the amount of people in my building who take their dogs to the park is enormous. I regularly walk there, and the atmosphere of dogs playing, people walking and engaging with each other is palpable. I have a hunch where in Cremorne they would want to put it, and it's over a 2 km walk away. For someone with a dog, especially small ones, it isn't realistic to make them go that far. This isn't even considering the elderly I have seen regularly using the same park. Killing a community area like this is a joke. Even just walking past on the way to Coles, it's just nice seeing everyone out and about around the park. This isn't even considering that I know this so-called 'report' will probably be done by some contracted 'consultant' that will burn money, take forever, and probably not even be read end to end.	223
Toby	It's such a joyful thing to watch dogs enjoy their time running around freely. My job is very mentally stressful, seeing smiles on dogs puts a smile on me as well.	224
No dogs just love watching them	We watch the dogs, we love it. We love seeing the community come together. It brings everyone joy.	225
Dave and Susie	Taking the dogs to the park keeps me connected to the community and tires out the dogs so they dont bark so much and bother the neighbours. People connect through their pets. I bought my house last year with the number 1 specific criteria of being walking distance to a fenced dog park.People without pets also bring their children to the park so they can play with animals.It would be horribly sad and bad for many peoples mental health if dogs access to the park was limited further.	227
Django	I actually come here by myself to improve my mental health. A walk and coffee to see the dogs has given me purpose when I don't feel my best. You can't be sad while watching the dogs have their best day. It's my favourite spot to go.	229
Girlfriend	This is our polite, well-behaved dog's favorite place in the world and her favorite time(s) of the day. All the other dog owners we've ever encountered have been lovely, respectful and extremely hygienic.	230
Girlfriend the Chow Chow	Socialisation is key, and the benefit it has for our Pets is just as important to ourselves. the phrase 'Love thy Neighbour' is something that has flourished in this space. Its created a community. I've met dozens of locals - who I now call friends from just attending. Just as much as team sport is Huge in the area, this brings just as much of the social aspect. It offers a shared experience that those involved can related to.	231
Girlfriend	It will change my day to day. Not only for myself but for my beautiful dog. She deserves the chance to run around and interact with other dogs. Citizens Park allows her to do this. If that is taken away from her, it'll be a real tragedy.	232
	As a 4 year resident of Bridge Road I frequent Citizen Park throughout the week on walks. While I do not own a dog presently myself, the joy and amusement I get from walking in and around the oval is something I can not imagine being taken away. When I work from home or go for an afternoon walk, my first steps take me to Citizens Park in the hopes of seeing some of my favorite neighbourhood dogs. Overall, my experience has been wholly positive with the people and pets that visit Citizens Park. Having this become solely for sporting use would be a sore point for the community.	233
Soda and Rick	Busy work lifestyle means we need an open space near our door.We moved to our address with the dog park being a MAJOR factor for convenience. Dogs need time off lead to run not just be walked around on a lead.	235
Mia and Milo	As we live in an apartment this is the only secure off lead area for our dogs to get some off lead freedom	236
Otto	When you live in accommodation without a backyard, you need somewhere to exercise your dog walking the streets. It's not viable as my dog is old and can't walk on hard services.	237
Margot	There aren't any other full fenced dog parks in the area.	238
Henry	If the park is removed as a dog park this will hugely negatively impact both myself and my dog. It's part of our routine and allows him a safe place to get exercise and socialise off leash with other dogs. It also allows me to socialise with other dog owners in the local community and it's such a valued part my me living in richmond. I'd be devistated if dogs could no longer use the park.	240
Panda	My dog will not have anywhere in Richmond fenced off to go off lead. Our old dog passed away near Barkly gardens which is not fenced off - he was hit by a car	241
Panda	Sadly our Italian greyhound passed away at Barkley gardens because he ran onto the road and got hit by a car. I wouldn't want anyone else to go through the trauma of loosing a dog this way because they don't have access to an enclosed park.	242
Reggie Panda	It's great for all the dogsto interact	243
Toby	Best part of my day. Able to give my dogs a good run around without travelling far and also meet people that I know/catch up with friends. It would be huge loss for both me and my dog if we could not use citizens park.	245
Trevor	Great way to meet other owners and dogs	246
	This is the only park within walking distance, and my little dog adores chasing after a ball	247
Ted	There is no where else safe and fenced nearby for us to bring our dog. We know the other locals and residents around who also bring their dog and it will kill the sense of community that brings	248
Flora and Fletcher	I love taking my dogs to Gleadell St Market every Saturday then they have an offlead run around at the park. We live in an apartment so with no backyard it's important they have offlead time.	249
Rufus	We would not have a dog park within walking distance so would have to drive somewhere to walk our dog	250
Ted	We will have to drive to the nearest park, further congesting our roads	251
Dog sitters	It is a great place to take the dogs to socialise and also meet other local people as it is harder to make friends as you get older	252
Daisy	Daisy loves the park- its where she goes to pmaybwoth her friends and in an urban jungle a tiny peace of nature where she runs around etc the dogs at citizens park is part of our community - how can you take the dogs away from a dog park!	253
Biggie Smalls	It would be devastating if we couldn't use Citizens Park - we don't have the time to trek across the suburb to a different area that would likely end up being much smaller. Despite the minor issues that come up at the park from time to time, we find it to be largely a peaceful and happy place where almost all the dogs and people get along	254
Hunter	Citizens Park is the closest park to our home. I work long hours and can only manage to walk Hunter twice a day if the park is close by. He is a big dog and needs a lot of space to run around. I can't imagine where the council would build a separate exercise area for large and small dogs. In addition, I assume it will not be anywhere near as spacious as Citizens Park.	256
Boo & Moe	The dog park is a community. I love cricket but the oval serves the community more as a dog park than the game does.	257
Jasper	As new residents to Richmond, dog walking around Citizens Park has become a morning & evening ritual. It's a great place to meet locals and start the day. The dog also has many friends there too. If we can't use the park then, where do we go for off leash walks without jumping in a car?	258
Dash	CP is an amazing community of dog owners. My dog loves coming here and can safely enjoy a fenced park. Market days here are a highlight!! There are very few issues here. Please do not remove this as an option for dogs.	259
Como	CP is easily accessible in a short walk otherwise we'd have to drive to the nearest park. Como loves the grass as we don't have any at home. This is outrageous & shortsighted!	260
Frankie	Horrific!! Frankie's highlight is the dog park and seeing her friends! I don't know where we could take her. We might have to drive because there are no other parks nearby. It's such a community. This would be devastating.	261
Tilly	They will feel isolated and behaviour will deteriorate	263
Daisy	Disrupt connections with community	269
Mizuki and Bruce	It's such a beautiful and calm place to take my dogs. It's close to the cbd and feels very peaceful.	270
Comet and Sky	No where to run dogs off lead in the area safely that is fully fenced	271
Sadie	Sadie loves a good run around without a lead and having the social.interactuon with other dogs. I also enjoy speaking to the owners of other dogs too	272
Hunter	The park is the only place I can take Hunter everyday for a walk.	273
Inka	We visit Citizens park for the playground with my children and it is handy because we can take Inka for a play on the oval with her friends. We also like to come on Market days and take Inka to the oval on Saturdays. It is a great place to meet other dog owners and socialise the dogs.	274
winnie	i've had beautiful memories at citizens park over the years, it's a place that really brings locals together. i've had the opportunity to meet countless great people, and this primarily being due to citizens park being an anchor for locals and their dogs. by having a community based space for locals to introduce their dogs to each other, not only connects us, but our much loved pets too, giving them the social interaction and play they deserve. it's a place that brings so many people a sense of ease, community and safety. with The Melbourne Clinic being right around the corner, it allows patients to have a joyful space to interact with local animals and people that can be the highlight of some of their days!	276
Lulu	It will stop the community in getting together and stopping healthy play for dogs	277
Sadie	1) will limit community engagement 2) will decrease use of facility dramatically 3) impact health of citizens also getting exercise while taking their dog to the park 4) decrease wellbeing of dogs	279
Poppy	My dog has become socially better with people and other dogs by being able to meet safely in an enclosed dog friendly space. This is one of the best reasons for being in Richmond, making this space dog free will simply make it a far less useful and used space, otherwise it's an empty Sports field of which they're are plenty of already. Councillors get an idea.	283
Molly	This is a great place for dogs to run. An opportunity for both dogs and their owners to socialise.	284
Raff	Citizens Park is a necessity for us to exercise our dog, as we live in an apartment. We chose this apartment purely because the park is close by.	288
	My partner and I don't have a dog but love going for a walk around citizen's park and seeing all the dogs playing and owner's socialising. There is no reason that dogs need to be banned from citizens park. The sports clubs use the oval for only a few hours at a time so having the oval sit dormant the rest of the time would be a waste. I believe the dog park is better for the community than the sports clubs are. A dog park in a seperate location would be small and probably beyond walking distance for most citizens park users.	289
Molly	There are no other open spaces nearby, where I can safely allow my dog to socialise and run around off leash. My dog is non aggressive and doesn't dig holes. I always pickup excrement. We both enjoy mixing with others (inc sports people) and sharing valuable parkland. This new idea sows the seeds of community division, and was not mentioned by any candidate at the very recent council election . The idea has been mooted without any mandate, and is frankly, deplorable.	290
Sadie	We rely on this park for my dog to get exercise off lead and socialisation, especially given we don't have a big yard as is the case with many people in Richmond who also rely on this dog park for the same reason	291
Lulu	The park is so important for both my partner and I and our dog. It keeps our mental health in balance by being able to go there after we both work full time. It is our place of recuperation as much as it gives our dog time to run around.	293
Dusty	Citizens Park was so important for puppy socialisation! We have a 6 mo old Border Collie so having a fenced park which is walking distance and/or has suitable parking is vital. We all know what an absolute nightmare it is getting in and out of Cremorne during peak hour and the parking is non existent. Having it in Cremorne will not service our part of Richmond	294
Maggie	Such a great community feel	295
Nill	Nil	297
Benson & Biggie	As a local resident, my dogs exercise at the park daily, but not only this, my small business benefits from a solid customer base of patrons who are walking their dogs to and from the park as part of their daily routine. By not allowing dogs at the park, this will drastically impact our revenue and be detrimental to the life of the business, therefore I am fully opposed to this motion both personally and professionally.	298
Arlo, Agnes	it's one of the only places i feel safe to take my dogs off lead. i've personally felt part of a very strong community and made many friends through taken my dogs to this park. i am not originally from victoria and so it's been hard to find places to socialise and be part of such a positive environment.	299
Leeloo	We need off leash dog park options that are in close walking distance, especially on hot days because Leeloo has a double coat and can't tolerate long walks in hot weather. Prefer not to drive to another park to walk her because of environmental reasons and traffic congestion. Citizen Park is a great option for us and one of the benefits of living in a vibrant neighbourhood with many other dog owners.	301
Ziggy & Luna	It will impact our dogs' exercise as no other adjacent park is fully fenced off so they can run and socialise freely. We will also be impacted in terms of our exercise regime, mental health and the ability to meet other locals and socialise.	304
Mia Milo	Will move	307
Archie	I love watching the dogs play on the oval and bringing archie to enjoy some socialising	308
	I love walking at Citizens Park when it's dog time. I get my vicarious dog and it was incredibly important for my mental health during the lockdowns. It has a great sense of community spirit. It would be travesty for the dogs and dog owners to be prevented from using this site.	311
	I'm actually not a dog owner but regularly visit, especially if looking after a pet for others, just to be neighborly. As a non pet owner and Richmond resident, I think this is appalling. It's the center of Richmond giving great access to all with dogs, and in high density living, this is required, as both backyard space and open space is limited in the area. It is also a way for the community to connect, and I think to move the park for dog owners, lovers, caters and children would be a blight on our community.	312
Pharaoh	While not a dog owner, but I appreciate the need for dog owners to have a space to take their dogs for a run and a walk. Particularly as our suburbs get denser and apartment living becomes the norm. I feel the council should be looking to add Cremorne as a second option, not as a replacement.	314
Winnie	It's the only gated park in Richmond and I ALWAYS tell all my friends to take their new puppies there if they want to get more comfortable having their dog off lead before going to a park without a fence. Not only that, this park was such a special place during COVID, the amount of community members that utilised it when there was no sport during COVID was a lifesaver and kept me sane during the awful lockdowns. It would be really sad to see this space lost that brings so much of the Richmond community together.	315
Cooper	I love that all types of dogs visit Citizens Park. It is one of the great things about living in Richmond. I would not walk or drive to Cremone. It is too far away.	317
Bullet	Citizens park is a great place to meet fellow dog owners. no longer allowing dogs to play and socialise would affect many dogs and their fellow fur friends.	318
Pippa	As a busy business owner I take my border collie to Citizens park in the morning and at night when we are busy. On the weekends I take her to the beach. I am very respectful of community sport but there is room for both	320
Albie	Richmond has become an extremely concentrated and overpopulated suburbs, full of a diverse community, and a many of them being pet owners. The streets of Richmond have become full of broken glass, and surrounded by litter, making it incredibly unpleasant and unsafe at times to walk with our pets. Having amenities, such as Citizens Park, can help to ensure a sense of community and belonging, not only for our pets but for our residents, especially whilst the local council clearly are still navigating the best way to keep our neighbourhood clean.	321
Kaplan	Unless there is a designated, off leash oval with a fence, this will be detrimental. We live inner city, there are so many streets without adequate tree shading and footpaths without grass and are instead pure concrete. In warmer months, we can give our dogs exercise on the oval without worrying about burnt feet and blisters. A large area with grease supports the well-being of all non-reactive dogs. Without having a backup plan ready for as soon as this goes into action, I do not support this motion.	323
Buddie	Citizens park is the only park I go to for my dog.	325
Dougal	Lack of place to socialise for my dog and myself. Talking to new people at the dog park is a highlight for me especially since I live alone and seeing the dogs playing gives me joy.	327
Leo	Substantially	329
Max	A community space, exercise and freedom for the dog and connection with other dog owners.	332
Besty	Only large safe open space nearby.Also easy friendly meeting place.	333
	There are no viable options within walking distance of this park. Must be kept open to dogs	335
Max	There are very few safe fenced off leash areas in this neighbourhood. Especially for older dogs, Max is 14-15 years old.	336
Banjo	We love the park on Sat mornings- we come here for Banjo to play off leash with all the other lovely dogs then we will buy coffee from the cafe and buy from the markets - the 3 activities go hand in hand to create strong community	337
Jasper	Our pooch has a heart condition and the walk to and from the park, including a 15 minute off leash frolic with other dogs keeps him healthy and happy. He would struggle to walk further and we chose to live where we do to facilitate this exercise for him. I buy a coffee and sometimes breakfast every morning from local businesses. This would stop if I'm not visiting the park. As a new arrival I have made some lovely connections with neighbours in the park. It is a real and authentic community hub for the neighbourhood. Allowing dogs on the oval helps nurture a lovely sense of community and it would be a terrible loss to lose this cherished local council amenity.	338
Elton	There are limited other offers leash locations within walking distance, and it would negatively impact my family & my dogs enjoyment of the local community areas.	339
Elton	Citizens park was one of the key locations we used to socialise our dog. It provided a safe and controlled environment for training which was within walking distance from home. It also provides us an opportunity to help enrich him physically and mentally in a way that is very difficult given we live in a townhouse with no backyard.	340
Paddy	Mental health deteriorates	343
Rosie	Our dog has a debilitating hip injury which means she can't walk too far from our house. Citizen's Park is very close and her only option for interaction.	344
Cada	It will impact our sense of community as well as mental health	345
Boris	My dogs have many dog friends there�. This would greatly effect their mental health	349
Daisy	This is the primary place our dog gets walked each day.	350
Cooper	Cooper will not be able to run off leash as there is no other fenced park.	351
Finn	We will have no enclosed safe space to walk our dog	352
Frankie	Great central location and limiting the access will mean we have to drive to the new location,as a family it is a great walk to citizens park	353
Billie	This is the best space for billie to run free as it is enclosed and she gets to play with many other dog friends. Other green areas are more dangerous (including snakes) :(	356
Snoop	My dog is a rescue beagle from RSPCA who was never bought up with recall training. She can only be off lead in fully enclosed areas as there is a risk she would run off, and on to roadways, when following a scent. Citizens Park is a wonderful open space where she can run free. Like my Richmond residents I have a small courtyard area, and this is her one change to be able to regularly run and be free. She also loves socialising with lots of other dogs and a trip to Citizens Park is the highlight of any day.	357
Evie Bea	Our 3 year old Aussie Bulldog loves running around at citizens park and because it is fully fenced in we know she is safe to run around off leash with her dog friends. We have taken her to other parks in Richmond that aren't fully fenced in and she has run onto the road and nearly gotten run over when off leash. Citizens park allowed our dog to stay fit and socialise with other dogs in a safe fully fenced environment. The dog community that frequent citizens park are friendly, supportive and social for the dogs and owners alike. It is a cornerstone of the Richmond community, in the same way the Glendall Street Market and Bridge Rd restaurants are. Please don't change it.	358
Yoda	Great Park in a nice and cereal area	359
Charlie	Living in Richmond we don't have a backyard so we attend the park every morning, night and sometimes throughout the day. Taking away access to the park will mean that Charlie will only be able to be walked around the streets of Richmond and will not be allowed off lead to play with his other dog friends. Not only will it affect Charlie, but it will also affect myself as a dog owner. I have met so many lovely people at the park who have now become my community. Citizen park is the only park within walking distance that is enclosed and I feel comfortable letting Charlie offload, without access to a car it will make it impossible to attend a new one.	360
	There is already a lack of suitable off lead dog spots in the area. Don't need to take what we do have away	363
Frank	Our family will not be able to walk to a local park with our dog to enjoy off-leash time in a safe environment.	366
Lina	I have a four-year-old Kelpie that loves to socialise with all size dogs. Having it fully enclosed at citizen Park is a great relief to me as any Distractions, my dog may chase like electric skis and any other fast moving objects like bikes It has changed my life to be able to walk from my house for my own health and mental health and meeting wonderful, generous kind people and I'm actually blown away with how the park has been shared by all the sporting community cricket football and of course dog lovers and general families it is a wonderful community That is brought joy and happiness to me and my dog	367
Freddie	It's more than a space for dogs to run safely, it's a community space where couples exercise themselves, their children and their pet. It is also a space where community members connect, elderly people sit and enjoy watching the activity in the park.	368
Scruff	I often meet here with my friends and it is our fave park	374
	This change will have a significant negative impact by not allowing dogs	375
Otis	This will fundamentally impact my dogs happiness and socialisation with other dogs. The community and culture of this park is something so special. This would be a disaster.	380
Daisy	I love the community attitude at Citizens Park. It is lovely for me to be able to wander in a lovely environment with my dog. Definitely one of the reasons we live where we do. I also love the community sport and often watch junior footy games and sit and watch cricket in summer. Surely we can all enjoy this great whole community asset!	381
Banjo	Our dog will have no where to walk to for a good run. It seems crazy to have to drive more dog to walk ?????	382
Tippi	It's a great community of dogs and people, it would really affect our routine & sense of connection if the dog park was to close or 'relocate'	383
Luda and Ness	Loss of off leash dog play for our dogs. Loss of catching up with friends we have made at the dog park. Loss of dog socialisation.	385
	I dont own a dog but I support using Citizens park for all people. I would suggest changing it to a proper park and doing away with the sports aspect altogether. I think the amount of sports parks in melbourne is too high and should be closed to be made available as normal parks, with trees and gardens and so on. Playgrounds, fitness grounds etc. Especially in Richmond where there the MCG is near by. We need more collective green spaces and less sports fields. I would also like to say that something needs to be done about dog behaviour. The owners leave poop everywhere and most dogs are not trained properly including constant barking and bad behaviour. Please collectively train your dogs. This includes outside coles when left alone and so on. thanks.	386
	Despite not owning a dog (yet!) we love walking or sitting in the park and watching the dogs enjoying the green space. Having such a great multipurpose park so close to where we live is a huge draw card and we love how well-used the park is by so many people	387
	Even though I do not have a dog, I love walking around the park seeing the dogs playing running around enjoying their best life so to have them banned will be a disappointment	388
Pablo	Socialising dogs for better behaviour and exercise. Also good social place for people	392
Vincenzo	It would be a tragedy to all Dogs and Humans for this park to move. . We all need to live in harmony together with sport groups .	395
Scout	My daughter has a severe mental illness. It is critical that Scout has access to Citizens Park when my daughter has leave to go.	403
Frank	This park is a huge part of our daily routine and there is absolutely no good reason to remove dogs from it. In fact, even if you try to.. I will come here with my dog and fight whatever rule you try and put in place.	406
Humphrey	Honestly, it would be terrible. My dog is 11, this park is a perfect distance and form of exercise and socialisation from him. It's also a great way for us owners to socialise and genuinely forms as a way of connecting with others. If anything, there should be more accessibility when sports only use a portion of the oval (for example when cricketers only use the cricket nets and remaining 90% of the park is unattended).	407
Dotty and Clover	Less space to exercise my dogs.	408
Enzo	Citizens park is great being enclosed for my dog. It's my daily meeting place to see my dog being able to play with other dogs there.	409
Rupert	It's where I exercise with Rupert!	411
Joshy and KD rascal	It's where I come to let them run around and be with other dogs	412
Gump	Gump is a social dog and goes crazy for his time at the park. Gump is getting on with age and Citizens Park is a fair walking distance for frail hips. I do not have a car and taking this park away would be be like taking a child from its mother!!!	413
Yuki	My dog needs a lot of daily off leash running plus socialising with other dogs. The MCG park is very frequently used as a car park, when this is the case there would be nowhere safe to take him offleash if Citizens Park were to be closed to dogs. Also my dog needs to run and play with his ball, when catching the ball we need the space to move away from other dogs who go after his ball. He's a high energy dog and really needs this activity. No space in Cremorne would be large enough to accomodate his needs.	419
Yuki	The loss of Citizen's Park for dogs would mean we would have very limited local options for off-lead walks for our dog and limited options for interacting and socialising with other dogs. I've always found Citizen's Park dog walkers to be very responsible when it comes to monitoring their dog's behavior and cleaning after them. I've had never experienced any serious issues regarding other dogs or their guardians at Citizen's Park. The only other option for us is the MCG however this often in use as a car park making it very unsafe to walk Yuki there.	420
Ziggy	There are limited areas as is for dogs to safely roam and play. Taking this away from dogs would be extremely cruel. Many of the houses in the area lack the space at home to provide for their dog. Many use the park as a social aspect for themselves and their pets. Any time I have seen sporting clubs on the oval there has never been pets on the field, it's common courtesy. We allow them to have their space so why can't our pets have theirs when NO one is using the ground. To me you're taking away the health and safety of pets and their owners.	424
Rhonda	Have to spend a lot more time getting to another dog park	427
Ziggy	We need more off leash areas not less! The amount of dogs in Yarra council is huge and areas like this are essential to socialise dogs in a safe environment. To reduce these areas will cause more unpredictable animal behaviour which is a safety concern	428
	I do not own a dog but so enjoy my neighbours dogs cavorting and socialising. It allows me to socialise too!	429
Rafa	I would have to drive to another dog park. I bought a house in this area because of the proximity to Citizens. This needs to be a shared space.	430
Rafa	We take our dog for a walk everyday in citizen park, it's a great place for him to interact with other dogs. It's the heart of the community and will be shame to see no longer me and a meeting place for people with dogs, and families who would like their children to interact with dogs.	432
Lexi, Banksy, Tam	Won't be able to let the off lead anywhere nearby	433
Lucas	I love taking my dog to citizens park, I feel safe taking him there as it's a fenced park and close by to the police station. My dog lukie loves going to citizens park he always looks forward to seeing his pals and meeting new dogs	436
Poppy	We have a child and a dog, like many people in the community.. It's hard to go somewhere where you can exercise both but citizens is perfect and all our mums group who are in the same boat meet here regularly. You'll be removing a community meeting place. Don't take away our dog park because it's more than this.. it's a complete family park.. we need to focus on educating those doing the wrong thing rather than punishing those doing the right thing!	437
Rocco	This is the first dog park our Rocco was able to visit after moving from Californiaand being 2 weeks in quarantine.He loves this park and his doggy and human friends.He is 15 years old and I would de saddened to not take him where he had so many happy memoriesbefore he crosses over the rainbow bridge	438
Casey	Citizens Park is crucial to the Yarra dog-owning community and provides enormous social and physical benefits. It is inconceivable that Council is considering removing the rights of dog-owning ratepayers by denying access to off-leash access. The Park's importance was underscored during the Covid lockdowns. We're told there's currently another pandemic � that of loneliness.The Park has, for many years, been a haven for both humans and dogs, and continues to provide a great sense of community and inclusivity.Lasting friendships are formed by both people and their dogs. Richmond has a high density of living and this will only increase given the recent changes to planning rules.The RSPCA states that 48% of all domestic pets are dogs with cats being 33% (ref: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/how-many-pets-are-there-in-australia/).The advent of working from home has exacerbated social isolation and for many, the Park is the only social contact or physical exercise they have on any given day. The Park provides a safe place for dogs to run, play, and socialise.The proposed alternatives are not realistic � they are all a considerable distance away and aren't fenced.This poses risks for people with mobility issues, dogs, and the public if a dog runs out on the road.The vast majority of dogs and their owners behave responsibly, and the proposal before Council simply panders to a vocal selfish minority.Please note that the dog owners are happy to share the Park and are in no way seeking to restrict access of other groups! A quick look at the Park's booking calendar clearly demonstrates that sporting clubs take up a small proportion of the available hours.Why would the Park be rendered off-limits to another group of citizens and ratepayers just because sport isn't being played?It's in the name � Citizens Park � it should be accessible to ALL citizens. Council claims to be committed to inclusivity, social participation, physical activity and diversity. This proposal denies ratepayers and residents access to precisely those attributes.Please, Councillors, if you really do believe in those values, don't take this crucial access away from us.	439
Sunday	Will have no where to take my dog off lead for her to socialise and will also prevent myself from accessing the park and socialising with other people and dogs which I enjoy.	440
Snowie	Citizens Park provides a great spot for dogs to enjoy off-leash exercise where high-density living means yard space is lacking or non-existent. It is also an opportunity for social connection for both dogs and pet owners alike. My partner and I enjoy coming to Citizens Park with or without our dog, simply to see other dogs enjoying themselves. It makes for a far nicer atmosphere to go for a walk or sit with a coffee than staring at either an empty oval, or sporting practice, which only occupies about a fifth of the total oval when/if on. Would be a waste to reserve it purely for this.	442
Blade	Huge impact as dog gathering has become part of the community	443
Jack	Citizens is a fully fenced, off-leash park.I consider both aspects important in managing and exercising my dog.It's a 5 minute drive from my home.I've made many friends over my years of visiting the park and we socialise at venues in the immediate area.Ironically, the only similar park that is near to my home is Victoria Park, also under the auspices of the City of Yarra.Citizens is very popular with dog owners because of its smaller size and nearby amenities, including toilets, cafes and the Gledell Street Market.I don't understand why anyone would consider depriving a significant part of the community from this community facility.	445
Pucca, Titan	I love seeing other dogs in the park! because Citizens Park allows dogs, it's a beautiful setting to walk around the park with all furry friends around. It's a refreshing sight! Plus, I had never had any problems with the dogs in the park (example stepping on dog poop, roughed up dog interactions, etc) none of those at all! And another reason why we chose to live in Church St is because of the park!!! So please don't stop allowing dogs to come and play in the park :(	447
	My wife & I chose to live here in Richmond specifically near Citizens Park because we know the park is dog friendly. It's also nice to meet furry friends on the way to work, to grocery, or to just take a quick stroll in the park.	448
Poppy	Citizens Park is convenient for us so Poppy can have a run and catch up with her doggy friends she likes to play with. However I understand the sports clubs frustrations given there's so much dog shit on the ground. I wouldn't want to be playing footy and go sliding into a dog turd after taking a ripper mark! If people would clean up after their dogs I think that would help our cause. Good luck with your endeavours. Woof woof!!	450
Archie	It will be a disaster for me and my dog if this park is not available. It is a regular ritual for me to throw the ball and give the dog a run. My dog loves running and I can safely walk my dog there and he's in a safe place when there. We appreciate that we can't always use the space when organised activities are on and respect that others also use the facilities. I hope they respect my needs.	451
Billie	Billie loves to walk freely around the park and sniff the grounds and play with other dogs. We have met many other friendly dogs and owners there. It's very close to home so it's a convenient way to give my dog an enriching experience when short of time.	452
Boffin	There is no other OFF lead dog park in walking distance this will severely impact our quality of life. The council has a duty of care to its constituents which includes the animals which reside here. Sporting events at citizens Park already take up an inordinate amount of space - When usually only half the oval is being used. Richmond High students using the space for sporting activities is more than acceptable however Shutting down literally the only possible space to exercise 500+ dogs so that a few dozen middle-aged men can Indulge their egos in day-long, completely pointless cricket 'competitions' that NOT A SOUL is interested cannot be justified compared to the health and wellbeing of literally hundreds of dogs. I suggest these men instead play their cricket games in traffic instead.	453
Billie	Will impact immensely as nothing of substance is in walking distance plus we live in the traders building and they tell us to take our dogs to citizens park	454
Misty	I moved to this area because of the dog park and my dog uses it as a social ground to meet other dogs which is healthy for the community on top of the community meeting each other leading to other connections and networks in the neighborhood	455
Luna	This is a core part of my weekend coming here with my dog on Saturday market days and the chance for me to feel like I am part of the Richmond community where I can shop from the local vendors, grab a coffee and do a few laps on the grass in citizens park and speak to other dog owners. I will be devastated if this park removes dog access and I believe the markets will also feel the impact. I am happy to share the oval with other sport groups and always pick up the dog poo my dog leaves.	456
Miss Bunny & Frankie	It will mean I need to use a car. Citizens Park is friendly and welcoming and part of the community.	457
Mack and Summer	This Park is the only Park in Yarra, Prahran, Port Melbourne, Windsor and north of the city that provides a safe place, as it is fenced in to allow dogs the freedom to play without fear of them being run over by cars. Everyone is protected. The Park is an extremely valuable asset.	458
Winnie	We use this park at least daily for our dog and family, it's by far the closest green area for us to access, it's safe and easily shared between dog owners and sports people. We respect the access of sporting clubs and intentionally visit at times sport is not on. It's also close to the playground meaning I can walk both my dog and children at the safe time to a safe, fenced, community space.	459
Tilley & Wallace	The park is such a social and lovely area for all locals to meet with dogs. Why would this be banned?	460
Bonnie	It's the nearest fully enclosed dog park to me, which is important because I don't feel comfortable letting my dog off-leash at other parks. Most of them are too close to busy roads, and I worry about safety. Having a secure space where my dog can run freely without the risk of running onto the road gives me peace of mind.	462
Teddy	We love our morning walks around the park, as does our dog. We have a very small courtyard so teddy totally depends on running around this park and spending time with all of his friends	463
Theodore	Shutting down Citizen's Park as an off-leash area for dogs would mean finding alternative spaces, likely requiring car travel on already congested roads. More significantly, Citizen's Park fosters a vibrant community of dog owners and neighbors. Taking away this privilege would undermine the social connections that contribute to Richmond's sense of community.	464
Poppy	I an elderly widow and Citizen's Park is close by, safe and very convenient to exercise my dog and me. I always pick up after her and she does not dig holes.It's disappointing that the bad behaviour of some dog owners means that access to to the oval by the majority of considerate dog owners may be curtailed.	465