About the program
The Victorian Government’s New and Upgraded Dog Parks program seeks to improve the state's open space network by committing $13.4 million to ensure that Victorians have easy access to much needed green open space to exercise, relax or enjoy the outdoors with their dogs.
This investment provides funding to specific public land managers to design and deliver the new and upgraded dog parks across Victoria over two rounds. This program also supports the continued implementation of the Victorian Government’s Open Space for Everyone Strategy 2021.
This program aims to:
- Invest in and optimise underutilised public land for Victorians to connect with their communities and exercise their dogs;
- Invest in off-leash areas to meet the growing demand for people to socialise and exercise their dog off-leash;
- Facilitate upgrades of existing dog off-leash areas to support contemporary needs and future longevity;
- Contribute to urban greening, cooling and shading of local neighbourhoods;
- Improve connectivity of open spaces with other points of interest and activity;
- Increase accessibility and safety of park users for all abilities and all genders; and
- Support involvement of Traditional Custodians.
The first round of this program allocated $7.685 million to deliver six new dog parks and 13 dog park upgrades through targeted grants to local councils across Melbourne and Geelong.
The second round of this program has allocated $4.898 million to deliver 26 dog park projects statewide in areas of greatest need as part of a competitive grants process.
Cliff Whitworth Reserve Dog Park, Essendon West (Photo credit: Daniel at Artificial Studio)
Round 2 projects
Round 2 of the program has now been announced. In March 2025, the New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program awarded $4.898 million in grants to support 26 projects. Round 2 provided funding opportunities open to all local councils across Victoria to deliver new and upgraded dog parks in areas of greatest need.
| Delivery partner | Location | Funding amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ararat Rural City Council | Centenary Park, Ararat | $100,000 |
| Benalla Rural City Council | 15 Saleyards Road, Benalla | $150,000 |
| Boroondara City Council | Macleay Park, Balwyn North | $92,811.37 |
| City of Casey | Sweeney Reserve, Berwick | $240,000 |
| Central Goldfields Shire Council | Jack Pascoe Reserve, Maryborough | $100,000 |
| Colac Otway Shire Council | Central Reserve, Colac | $225,000 |
| East Gippsland Shire Council | Bosworth Road Recreation Reserve, Bairnsdale | $100,000 |
| Glen Eira City Council | Mackie Road Reserve, Bentleigh East | $239,155.50 |
| Knox City Council | Kings Park, Upper Ferntree Gully | $300,000 |
| Macedon Ranges Shire Council | Hurry Reserve, Kyneton | $99,335 |
| Manningham City Council | Aranga Reserve, Donvale | $200,000 |
| Mansfield Shire Council | Mansfield Station Precinct, Mansfield | $175,000 |
| Maribyrnong City Council | McIvor Reserve, Yarraville | $100,000 |
| City of Melbourne | Clayton Reserve, North Melbourne | $300,000 |
| Melton City Council | Navan Park, Harkness | $300,000 |
| Mildura Rural City Council | Kenny Park, Merbein | $160,000 |
| Mitchell Shire Council | Chittick Park, Seymour | $166,500 |
| Monash City Council | Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh | $150,000 |
| Moorabool Shire Council | Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Reserve, Bacchus Marsh | $300,000 |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | Hurstbridge Dog Park, Hurstbridge | $300,000 |
| Pyrenees Shire Council | 10 Beggs Street, Beaufort | $111,000 |
| Swan Hill Rural Council | Centenary Park, Robinvale | $225,000 |
| Wangaratta Rural City Council | Mitchell Avenue Reserve, Wangaratta | $100,000 |
| West Wimmera Shire Council | Kaniva Tourist Camping and Fauna Park, Kaniva | $90,000 |
| City of Whittlesea | VR Michael Reserve, Lalor | $300,000 |
| Wyndham City Council | Manor Lakes Linear Park, Manor Lakes | $275,000 |
Round 1 projects
In 2024 the New and Upgraded Dog Parks Program awarded $7.685 million in grants to support 19 projects. Round 1 provided capped funding opportunities to specific eligible organisations for the purpose of delivering new and upgraded dog parks in identified locations.
| Delivery partner | Location | Funding amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brimbank City Council | Sydenham Basin Reserve, Sydenham | $600,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Alma Treloar Reserve, Cockatoo | $300,000 |
| Cardinia Shire Council | Officer District Park, Officer | $400,000 |
| City of Casey | Essex Park Bush Reserve, Endeavour Hills | $480,000 |
| Glen Eira City Council | Caulfield Racecourse Wedge - Pawfield Park, Caulfield East | $300,000 |
| City of Greater Geelong | Sparrovale Wetland Reserve, Charlemont | $550,000 |
| Hume City Council | John Ilhan Reserve, Meadow Heights | $265,000 |
| Knox City Council | Wantirna Reserve, Wantirna | $800,000 |
| Manningham City Council | Burgundy Reserve, Doncaster | $400,000 |
| Manningham City Council | Warrandyte Reserve, Warrandyte | $300,000 |
| City of Monash | Mount Waverley Linear Reserve, Mount Waverley | $500,000 |
| Moonee Valley City Council | Travancore Park, Travancore | $300,000 |
| Moorabool Shire Council | Masons Lane Reserve, Bacchus Marsh | $400,000 |
| Nillumbik Shire Council | Diamond Creek Dog Park, Diamond Creek | $300,000 |
| City of Whittlesea | Allumba Park, Wollert | $500,000 |
| City of Whittlesea | Whittlesea Public Gardens, Lalor | $340,000 |
| Wyndham City Council | Cambridge Reserve, Hoppers Crossing | $350,000 |
| Yarra City Council | Smith Reserve, Fitzroy | $300,000 |
| Yarra City Council | Quarries Park, Clifton Hill | $300,000 |
Completed dog parks
Since 2018, 31 new dog parks have been delivered across Melbourne and regional Victoria through two programs to create more space for our four-legged friends to run and play.
This included an investment of $5 million towards 14 off-leash dog parks in metropolitan Melbourne under the Suburban Parks Program, and a further $2.5 million for the creation of 17 off-leash dog parks across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne under the Eco Stimulus Building Works package.
Find out more about the completed dog parks here.
More information
For information and enquires please email the Open Space Programs team at open.space@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Page last updated: 31/03/25