The City of Oakland has suggested the following priorities in developing dog parks.

Locate one or two potential sites --little used sites will be easiest for the city to approve.

Get endorsement from neighbors and other stakeholders --both dog owners and others. Petitions or letters work best. keep your own record of the e-mail, phone and other contact
information for every person who signs. They will become dog park volunteers and supporters.

Develop a proposed site plan--indicating fencing, signage, surfacing and vegetation. The City can provide aerial photos and other maps as a starting place for most parks.
Don't perfect the plan, just give the city an idea of what is desired. There will be plenty of changes to your initial plan.

Develop a budget--from the site plan. Fencing costs about $12 per linear foot. Gates cost about $500. The city will help cost out the other items, because most work is done using the
city's contractors and suppliers.

Start fundraising--The less money the city has to provide, the easier it will be for them to approve new park facilities. Learn from other park projects in Oakland friends of Oakland parks and from other dog parks around the country caldog.org.

Build coalitions--Other park users, merchants, parents, environmentalists can all help make the need for a dog park clear to the city.

Meet your City Council member-- Early meetings with your council person or staff aide can help identify areas of support and area of concern.

Don't reinvent the wheel--Stay in touch with other dog park advocates--not just those in your own neighborhood or city. Resources and solutions are gladly shared. Check out resources for starting a dog park at the California Dog Owners Group (link to http://www.caldog.org/off_leash_links.php)