READER DISCUSS: Balancing dogs and playground areas

A PLAY in the park is not just fun for kids, but for the four-legged family members too.

But where do you draw the line on dogs in playground areas?

Sunshine Coast Council has decided to fence off a playground in an off-leash dog park at Currimundi due to a safety hazard. 

The council told the Kawana Weekly that there was a "risk dogs could collide with children using the park's bike track". 

The dog off-leash area still accounts for about 60% of the 3.5ha park. 

Currimundi beach was recently named the best off-leash dog area on the Sunshine Coast by Daily readers, so its little surprise its park areas are equally as popular. 

But can there be a success mix of off-leash dog areas and playgrounds?

Here's a snapshot of you online debate:

Dianne Cameron: We have a dog park. It's only for dogs off leash and not for kids. The dogs have a ball. Maybe they need to look at more of these?

Kate Wall: Maybe the council should make more fenced dog parks? Having an "off-lead area" for dogs that's shared with kids playgrounds, parks, sporting fields, carparks etc is ridiculous! More fenced dog parks are needed on the Coast, not just at Buderim and Caloundra.   

Kat Davis: All dogs should be on leash if in public. dogs are unpredictable. it might be your dog is socialised and happy..but it just takes one other dog who is having a bad day who is not used to a pack environment. better to be safer than sorry.

Susie Guille: People are still frightened by and allergic to dogs. Better to keep them leashed in public unless it is a park specifically for dogs to run free.

Helen N Heinz Lohmann: All dogs need to be on a lead in public areas for everyone's comfort, please.   

Christine Bunny: Off-leash parks should be fenced and should not share space with children on bikes. A dog can easily run out when chasing a ball and tip a child off his bike. I love to walk my dog off leash so she gets excercise and socialises with other dogs, but if I see a cyclist coming I quickly put her on the leash. Too easy to have an accident mixing bikes and dogs.

Sora Chan: Dogs should be on leads, perhaps council can use some of their amazingly high wages to build a dog park so that dogs can run freely without endangering themselves and avoiding unnecessary dramas.

Betty Drenth: I think dogs should be on a lead. Big and small, especially a park where children are playing.

Bec Bryant: The playground at Currimundi is fenced, there is a huge grassed area next to the playground that most dogs I see run around in. Maybe they can finish fencing that off and just keep them separate? Or take your dogs down Currimundi Beach it's off leash and dogs love the beach.