From 17 August 2026 Gordon Barnard Dog Park will be closed for up to 4 weeks as we conduct important maintenance work to ensure the area remains a functional and safe place for dogs and their owners. This will be the first maintenance closure of this facility since it first opened to the community five years ago.
We’re doing this in response to community feedback that the park has insufficient drainage capacity. This means that following periods of heavy rainfall some areas of the park can become waterlogged and muddy. This damp ground is more easily damaged by dogs playing and affects the ability for grass and other plants to grow in the area.
These works will also reduce the movement of surface materials such as woodchips, as during water overflow from the dry creek bed we have seen these materials shift down the hill.
To better manage these periods of heavy rainfall a key part of the planned works program will be clearing and expanding the existing dry creek bed, improving drainage capacity, and conducting important landscaping work. To conduct this important excavation work we’ll be bringing a small digger and other excavation vehicles on-site.
We’ll also be conducting other important works during this closure such as removing a dead tree and conducting other minor tree works.
We know this facility is well-loved by dog owners have planned this work to take place now, in the winter, to minimise disruption to the community. If weather permits, we anticipate the work will be completed well within the four-week window we have set out.
While the Gordon Barnard Reserve Dog Park is undergoing this work, we encourage you to visit another of Boroondara’s many off-lead areas. A full list of these areas can be found on our website, with the nearest being located at Hislop Park, less than 400 meters away from the Gordon Barnard Reserve Dog Park.
