Private South Richmond dog park will become public to avoid closure

South Richmond will soon have its first official dog park : Phideaux Field, currently a private dog park run by, and in front of, Forest Hill Presbyterian Church .

Why it matters: It'll bring the total number of public dog parks in the city to four. That could help boost the city's ParkScore , an annual measure of cities' park systems by the Trust for Public Land nonprofit.

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The big picture: Phideaux Field , a small fenced-in area where off-leash dogs can play on Forest Hill Avenue, was in danger of closing due to rising insurance costs for the church, City Council President Kristen Nye tells Axios.

• They asked if the city could help, and officials and the parks department were happy to answer the call, especially since the city's latest Parkscore identified a need for more dog parks (and splash pads and playgrounds).
• "It was a unique opportunity to have a long-term lease on a dog park" without trying to find vacant land within the city's 63 square miles, Nye says.

Plus, the church has long been a great community partner, Nye says, noting that in addition to the dog park, it offers a public meditation garden, free food pantry, serves as a polling place and allows neighborhood association meetings.

Fun fact: Nearly 40% of Richmond-area households have a dog, per census data .

• That's around 215,000 RVA pups.

Phideaux Field has been a private dog park open to the public that will come under the city parks umbrella soon. Photo: Karri Peifer/Axios

Details: The city will lease Phideaux Field from the church for 10 years to start, per the lease . There's no cost to the city other than adding the park to its insurance policy at "nominal cost," per Nye.

• The church will continue to cover park maintenance and amenities its always offered at the park, like water bowls and poop bags.

What's next: Council approved the lease at its meeting Monday night, it should be signed this week or next.