Willoughby Park’s role as both a popular dog exercise area and a sporting venue is under scrutiny as Willoughby City Council develops a long-term strategy for managing dogs in public spaces.
Residents have raised concerns about dogs approaching other park users, waste left on the grounds and confusion over when the park’s two ovals can be used for off-leash exercise. Some have called for the lower oval to be fenced, while others want to retain unrestricted space for dogs outside organised sport.
The 4.94-hectare park on McClelland Street accommodates cricket, casual recreation, playgrounds and dog walking. Its shared perimeter pathway also attracts walkers, cyclists and other visitors, bringing different activities into close contact.
Under the existing Willoughby Park rules, dogs can exercise off-leash on the upper oval between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., provided it is not being used for sport. The lower oval permits off-leash exercise throughout the day except during organised sporting activities.
Calls for fencing and clearer park rules
The concerns emerged during consultation for Council’s Dog Recreation Strategy, which is intended to guide the management of dog exercise areas over the next decade.
At a community drop-in session at Willoughby Park on 25 October 2025, residents described problems involving dogs running towards other visitors and entering areas used by children.
The January 2026 engagement report, prepared by Otium Planning Group, records concerns about supervision and dog waste. Participants also reported a serious injury involving dogs running onto the shared pathway, although the report does not provide independently verified details of the incident.
Suggestions included fencing the lower oval, improving signs that explain off-leash boundaries and increasing enforcement of existing rules. Some attendees preferred to keep the lower oval unfenced but dedicated to dog exercise when it was not needed for sport.
The report also identified the difficulties of managing a park that serves several groups at once. The upper oval is mainly used for cricket, while the lower oval sometimes accommodates training and warm-up activities.
One of the city’s busiest dog exercise areas
Willoughby Park ranked among the most frequently selected public spaces in the council’s community survey, with 411 respondents identifying it as a park they regularly use.
Another 251 respondents selected the park when asked which dog off-leash areas they use, placing it second behind Artarmon Reserve among the listed locations.
The wider survey received 979 submissions before closing on 12 November 2025. Of those who answered the dog ownership question, 72 per cent owned a dog, reflecting the strong participation of dog owners in the consultation.
Although most respondents who rated existing off-leash facilities expressed satisfaction, requests for improvements were common.
Across the council area, additional off-leash space attracted 574 mentions in open-ended feedback. Better dog waste facilities, separation of different park users, improved lighting and secure fencing were also recurring suggestions.
The findings reflect responses from people who took part in the consultation rather than a representative survey of all Willoughby residents.
Keeping space for sport and recreation
Willoughby Park’s existing arrangements allow dog owners access to sporting fields when those grounds are not required for organised activities. The current rules also make clear that off-leash access does not apply throughout the entire park.
NSW law requires dog owners to keep their animals under effective control in public places, including designated off-leash areas. Owners must also remove their dogs’ waste.
Council’s wider review will consider how existing dog recreation areas can better serve residents while protecting other park users, public safety and the environment.
The Dog Recreation Strategy project follows consultation conducted in late 2025. Council scheduled the draft strategy for consideration on 26 October 2026 as part of preparations for another public feedback stage.
The publicly available project update does not confirm the result of that meeting or announce any approved changes specifically affecting Willoughby Park.
For now, the upper and lower ovals remain subject to the off-leash conditions published on Council’s website, while the community’s requests for fencing, clearer signs and better management await a confirmed policy outcome.
Willoughby Park: Current Off-Leash Rules
Upper oval: Dogs can exercise off-leash between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., except during organised sport.
Lower oval: Off-leash exercise is permitted except during organised sporting activities.
Owner responsibilities: Dogs must remain under effective control. Owners must clean up after their pets.
These are existing rules. Proposed fencing and other improvements have not been confirmed as approved.
Source: Willoughby City Council
Published 6-Nov-2026
