Scottsdale council approves petition to restore behavior-based signage at Chaparral Dog Park

Scottsdale City Council voted Tuesday to approve a citizen petition to replace the park's “large/small” dog area signs with behavior-based “active/passive” designations and to install new, larger dog-park etiquette signs at Chaparral Dog Park, near Hayden and McDonald.

The petition, submitted on behalf of hundreds of park users, asked the city to return to behavior-based designations and to post new entry signage that helps first-time visitors decide which area best fits their dog. The change followed a Parks and Recreation Department presentation that said the department had switched to size-based signage in 2023 after user feedback that “active/passive” was too subjective.

Nick Molinari, interim assistant director for the City of Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Department, told council the off-leash area is divided into three cells — two larger areas rotated for turf maintenance and a smaller cell — and that staff had benchmarked approaches used in other cities and industry guidance before recommending signage options. Molinari said benchmarking showed many cities use size-based labels, and that groups such as the American Kennel Club and Trust for Public Land commonly recommend small/large divisions, though some guidance also recognizes timid or activity-based spaces.

Steve Sutton, a longtime dog-park user who helped gather signatures for the petition, told council the current size-based signs do not define what constitutes “small” or “large” and argued size is a poor predictor of behavior. Sutton said the petition had been supported by about 500 signers and that the new behavior-based signs provide “basic guidance for deciding which area is most appropriate for the dog's person.” He also asked for large, easy-to-read etiquette signs at park entries so visitors understand expectations.

After public testimony and staff remarks, Mayor Lisa Borowski moved to approve the petition. A council member seconded the motion and the clerk recorded the council's vote; the motion was approved. The council did not provide a roll-call tally on the record for that motion.

What changed: The Parks and Recreation Department had changed from “active/passive” to “large/small” in 2023, saying users found the active/passive distinction subjective. Staff told council they had contacted dog-park users, held public meetings in fall 2024, and planned to bring signage recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Sutton and other frequent users argued the behavior-based signs include simple definitions and etiquette language that would be more useful for first-time visitors and help prevent injuries and misunderstandings.

Details and next steps: The city will proceed with installing the behavior-based designation signs and new dog-park etiquette signage as requested in the petition. City staff had indicated they were prepared to work with council and user groups on wording and placement; the Parks and Recreation Commission had been scheduled to review signage in mid-February as part of an earlier outreach plan. The council's vote directs staff to implement the petitioned signage changes. The department indicated each of the larger off-leash areas is roughly one acre and the smaller cell is just under an acre; staff also noted the large cells are rotated for turf regeneration.

Why it matters: The change affects users of Chaparral Dog Park (dog owners and visitors) and reflects how resident petitions can alter published park operations and signage. Council and staff framed the vote as a policy choice about how to present expectations to park visitors rather than a change in rules or enforcement of new requirements.

Quotes: "Physical size is not a reliable indicator of human or canine behavior," petitioner Steve Sutton told the council, arguing the behavior-based signs were "better than any others I've seen because they give basic definitions of active and passive."

"We did benchmarking... and found that large and small designations are probably more common," Parks and Recreation interim assistant director Nick Molinari said in presenting staff research, while noting other jurisdictions use different approaches.

The mayor moved to approve Sutton's petition; the motion carried and staff will proceed with implementing the behavior-based signs and updated etiquette signage.

A note on process: This item began as a citizen petition and followed staff benchmarking and Parks and Recreation Commission review. The council's action approved signage installation; it did not adopt new park regulations nor did it change enforcement authority.