Meierijstad introduces 20 new off-leash dog parks for residents
Residents of Meierijstad can soon let their dogs roam freely in 20 new fenced-off areas. Starting in Keldonk and southern Veghel, these parks aim to improve quality of life for pet owners while keeping public spaces clean and accessible for all.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Number of off-leash areas | 20 |
| Initial locations | Keldonk, southern Veghel (Veghel Zuid, De Leest, De Scheifelaar, Veghels Buiten) |
| Target walking distance | Max 1,000 meters from homes in built-up areas |
| Minimum size per area | 1,500 m² (preferably 5,000 m²) |
| Amenities | Fencing, benches, waste bins |
| Maintenance responsibility | Municipality (including dog waste cleanup) |
| Timeline for first areas | Ready for use in 2026 |
| Evaluation | Monitoring and assessment in 2027 before full rollout |
The municipality of Meierijstad is responsible for managing public spaces and ensuring they meet the needs of residents, including pet owners. This initiative reflects their role in balancing recreational facilities with community well-being and cleanliness standards.
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Meierijstad to establish first off-leash areas for dogs
A fenced-off area large enough for dogs to run freely; the municipality maintains the site and cleans up dog waste. This is part of the new dog facilities policy adopted in Meierijstad in September 2025. The municipality is starting with the first areas in Keldonk and southern Veghel.
The off-leash areas
The goal is to create 20 new off-leash areas throughout the municipality. Ideally, residents within built-up areas should be able to reach such a site within a maximum walking distance of 1,000 meters from their homes. Each off-leash area should preferably be 5,000 m² in size, but at least 1,500 m². These will be fenced areas that are easily accessible and where dogs can run, play, sniff, and socialize freely without being leashed. This socializing applies not only to the dogs but also to their owners. That is why each area will include a bench and a waste bin. The municipality will be responsible for maintaining these areas and keeping them clean. Alderman Jan van Burgsteden says: “This also means that the municipality will clean up dog waste within the fenced area. However, that does not mean we are not very happy if dog owners clean up after their own pets. In fact, we will encourage this. After all, that is also the rule—and even mandatory—outside the off-leash areas!” Once an off-leash area is established, the municipality will remove other existing dog facilities in the vicinity.
The approach
The establishment of the 20 new off-leash areas will be rolled out in phases. This means that in 2026, work will begin in two areas: Keldonk and southern Veghel (the districts: Veghel Zuid, De Leest, De Scheifelaar, and Veghels Buiten). The participation process will be carefully designed to ensure that local knowledge and needs are fully utilized. In addition, the process should help create engagement and understanding of the choices made among all residents of the neighborhood or village. “We will work on this together, with the aim of making it as pleasant as possible for the dogs, dog owners, non-dog owners, and neighbors of an off-leash area. After all, the public space is for all of us,” says the alderman.
Next steps
The goal is for the two areas to be ready for use this year. The municipality will monitor and evaluate both the participation process and the use of the off-leash areas established in 2026. In 2027, it will decide whether the approach can be rolled out across the entire municipality and what the schedule will look like.