Dog park opens in Crawley

A secure dog paddock has opened in Tilgate Park, Crawley, West Sussex. 

Tilgate Park Hound Ground acts as a safe space for dogs to run freely, which is forbidden in other areas of Tilgate Park, including around the lake and on the main lawn. 

To use the 0.8 acre paddock, which allows for six dogs per session, dog walkers must pay a £10 fee for 55 minutes use of the park.  

The fence around the area is 4ft high and surrounded by “overgrown plants and nettles” that Crawley Borough Council says will discourage dogs from escaping. 

The paddock is only accessible through a combination lock and the nearest car park will be the main car park used by all Tilgate Park visitors. 

Councillor Chris Mullins, Cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing at Crawley Borough Council, said: “The Hound Ground is a great addition to Tilgate Park and provides dog owners with a secure location to exercise their pets.”

Dogs have had to be kept on leads in Tilgate Park since 1 September 2022, after a controversial Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was put in place.  

Tilgate Park has a fully automated, self-serve dog washing station, which is located by the main toilets and car park.