Residents say the new asphalt-and-gravel layout has raised concerns about safety and usability, while the Chicago Park District says the project was designed to improve accessibility, maintenance and drainage.
"This park used to be full at this time of day, and now, it's like a ghost town," dog owner Cassidy Kulhanek said.
Pet owners who use the dog-friendly area at Hamlin Park say the redesign has not been friendly to the dogs it was intended to serve.
"I feel it's worse than it was before the whole thing started," dog owner Sylvia Snow said.
The park district said the dog-friendly area near Hoyne and Wellington was redesigned to improve accessibility, maintenance and drainage, replacing its previous pea gravel surface with an asphalt-and-gravel design.
According to the park district, the previous dog area consisted primarily of pea gravel, which migrated onto adjacent sidewalks and did not provide an accessible or durable circulation route. The updated design introduced asphalt walkways and gathering areas while retaining pea gravel in designated dog activity areas.
The park district said the hybrid design was intended to create a stable, lower-maintenance surface for users while improving accessibility, better defining circulation patterns and extending the service life of the facility. The park district said it also preserved permeable areas to support drainage.
Snow said she was immediately concerned about the new surface material.
"I was concerned immediately about the surface, the dark surface, that in the summertime it's going to be too hot for the paws," Snow said.
Other owners expressed concerns about how the redesign functions.
"The black asphalt isn't great; the rocks don't stay in these little cutouts," dog owner Greg Zimmerman said.
Kulhanek said her dog, Pop Tart, has not been injured, but concerns about other dogs have kept them away.
"I've seen dogs get, like, their paws sensitive suddenly when they're running through the gravel, like something has stuck them and, like, pricked their paw or something," Kulhanek said. "We are hearing a lot of horror stories about other dogs getting hurt at the park, and that kind of deters us from coming at all."
Zimmerman said he understands the goals behind the redesign but questions whether the final product works for dog owners.
"I understand that they did this because it's easier for maintenance or for water runoff, and I understand that it has to be usable as well, so they kind of missed the mark on that part," Zimmerman said.
In a statement, the park district said it is aware of concerns raised by park users and has scheduled a meeting with the Dog Friendly Area Committee.
"We have been made aware of patron concerns regarding the Dog Friendly Area (DFA) at Hamlin Park, and have scheduled a meeting with the Dog Friendly Area Committee to address the community's concerns about their park experience and determine the appropriate next steps in alignment with our guidelines," the park district said.
The park district said it does not actively select locations for new dog-friendly areas but supports communities interested in creating them by providing guidelines and helping stakeholders through the process. The park district said the Dog Friendly Area Committee that initiates the process is composed of community stakeholders responsible for maintenance of the dog-friendly area.
The park district also said gravel-filled concrete sections within the redesign were intended to provide controlled drainage areas. According to the park district, those sections help minimize standing water and mud, improve drainage performance and keep gravel confined to designated locations.
The park district added that pea gravel and asphalt are commonly used materials in park facilities, including dog-friendly areas, because of their durability and maintenance considerations. For dog owners raising concerns, the issue extends beyond the redesign itself. They say they want a voice in whatever changes come next.