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Park Rules for Pets

Southern Pines Regional Park

Pet and Service Animal Policy

 

  • Purpose of the Policy

Pets and other animals are restricted in and on the Southern Pines Regional Park property.  These restrictions are in place to ensure that all park patrons can enjoy the park’s many opportunities in a safe and secure environment.

 

  • Definitions

Active Area:  For purposes of this policy, an “Active Area” is any area that may be used by park patrons in a manner for which the area was specifically designed.  Examples include but are not limited to all athletic complexes (baseball / softball, soccer, football, pickleball), Southern Pines Water Park, the playground, the pavilion, walking track areas and the Ag & Expo Building.  Even if the area is vacant or unoccupied, it is still considered an “Active Area”.

Service Animal:  As established and defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Emotional Support Animal:  Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.

 

  • Policy Statement

It is the policy of the Dublin-Laurens County Recreation Authority and Southern Pines Regional Park to prohibit all pets and other animals from entering or being in the immediate vicinity of all “Active Areas” in the park.  All pets and other animals are also prohibited in the areas of parking lots that support those “Active Areas” when those areas of parking lots are actively being used.

Service Animal:  Service animals, as established and defined by the ADA, are permitted everywhere in the park, including all “Active Areas”.  All service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless such devices interfere with the service animal’s work or if the patron’s disability prevents the use of these devices.  In such cases, the patron must maintain control over the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls.

Emotional Support Animals:  Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not granted the same access to prohibited areas as are ADA-defined service animals.  However, the Dublin-Laurens County Recreation Authority and Southern Pines Regional Park may allow such access on a case-by-case basis.  Permission must be obtained prior to bringing a support or therapy animal into a prohibited area.

The Dublin-Laurens County Recreation Authority and Southern Pines Regional Park reserves the right to change, modify, or amend this policy at any time.