In the spring of 2006, dog owners living in Downtown Minneapolis came together to increase the amount of convenient opportunities for their dogs to exercise and socialize together off-leash.  This type of socialization is an activity that promotes healthy, well-behaved dogs. The four existing dog parks in Minneapolis, owned and operated by the Park & Recreation Board, were inconvenient for the urban dwellers and their canine companions. 
After investigating the problem, talking to constituents and researching best practices in other cities around the country Council Member Lisa Goodman spearheaded the effort to develop 3 new off-leash dog parks. "Dog Grounds", a non-profit organization, was created. Members of the community were recruited and elected to the newly-formed Board of Directors, and work began on the first three dog play areas.