Wagging tails and well behaved canines will become new fixtures at a Darnall park following the approval of plans for a dog training centre.
High Hazels Park will soon be home to the newest location of Yorkshire Dog Training. The company received approval of their lease by Sheffield City Council on Wednesday.
The park, which is run as a charity trust, currently houses a café, playground, and a sports facility.
Craig Rice, Managing Director of Yorkshire Dog Training, said: “Our Sheffield Training Centre has been in discussion with the Council for over a year now and we are very happy that the planning phase is coming to end and we can hopefully get started soon.”
The company already runs home services for pets in Sheffield and the new training centre will join a list of branches across Yorkshire in Leeds, Doncaster, Harrogate, and Wakefield.
The training centre will be built on the disused bowling green, breathing new life into the park.
The proposal for the lease highlighted that the location of the centre will “remove the feeling of neglect in this part of the park.”
Western Entrance of High Hazels Park. (Photo by Neil Theasby).
“Personally I am broadly in favour of the dog training centre,” said Paul Campbell, 72.
Mr Campbell, who is a member of Friends of High Hazels Park, added: “The reserve bowling green has not been used for many years, and that part of the park has become a bit of a backwater.”
Construction of the new centre is part of the five-year Better Parks initiative started by the City Council in 2018. The program aims to improve the city’s parks and green spaces while increasing commercial interest and revenue.
Mr Rice said: “We are very keen to help build a community of owners with well trained dogs around our Sheffield Centre, and once government restrictions allow, will be planning group activity which is both fun for dogs and their owners.”
An increased community presence in the park may also help to reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour. This concern comes following a rape in the park which made national headlines in December 2020.
High Hazels Park has also been identified for funding from Public Health to support further investment in youth recreational facilities. This will most likely lead to either a ball court or a skate park.
