A long-awaited upgrade to the small dog area at Perrin Park in Toowong is finally in motion, bringing relief to pet owners who have waited nearly two years for promised improvements.
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Brisbane has begun preparations for the upgrade works following a string of delays caused by seasonal constraints, community feedback rounds, extreme weather events, and infrastructure setbacks.
The Perrin Park dog park journey began in November 2023, when initial upgrades to the overall dog area were opened. However, many local dog owners quickly noted the small dog section remained underwhelming and under-equipped. This led to community consultations in February 2024, where residents voiced their concerns about what was missing from the Council’s initial efforts.
A mobile pop-up in July 2024 gathered further input, prompting the project to be listed for funding a month later. Two upgrade designs were released for community voting in October 2024, with the first design ultimately receiving the most support.
Yet, construction faced a new setback due to the hibernation season of the park’s local bat colony, delaying the start of works. Additional complications followed in early 2025, including Cyclone Alfred, flooding, and a sewage spill that forced part of the park to remain closed.
Despite the mounting frustrations, Council pushed forward with service mapping and final design preparations in May 2025, marking a major step forward.
Planned upgrades include:
- A new shade shelter in the small dog area
- More seating for pet owners
- An enlarged off-leash zone for small dogs
- Additional tree planting for natural shade and greenery
- Asphalt resurfacing and sealing of the park’s access road
The improvements come after a groundswell of community pressure. A petition lodged in April 2025 called out the repeated delays, with residents citing poor lighting, safety issues in the car park, and lack of transparency around the timeline.
Health and safety concerns have remained central to the community’s push for action, particularly after floodwaters in March and April left parts of the park unusable.
Read: Toowong’s Perrin Park and Other Brisbane Parks Get New Free Outdoor Gyms
With works finally underway, the small dog community is hopeful that Perrin Park will soon offer the safe, shaded and well-equipped space they’ve long advocated for.
Published 23-June-2025
