This 2006 Google satellite image of Riverdale's Withrow Park graphically illustrates the impact dogs have on the park's ecosystem. Dogs have a leash-free run that is just south of the ice rink and north of the baseball diamond seen in this image. In the spring, runoff from the rink and from the normal flow of water along an existing gully, saturates the dog run area and pushes the dogs and their owners into the park proper (of course, it is common practice for dogs to run free beyond their no-leash zone).

Our parks, most designed for an earlier dog-limited era, are being damaged by the increased use. All of which is to point out that in a society with more and more dog owners we have to redesign our recreational spaces or else no one will benefit from them.