The group of West Melbourne residents have been campaigning for almost a year for a dog off-leash trial at Hawke and Adderley Street Park.

While the off-leash trial was voted down, the campaign has won supporters by using innovative methods such as a book of photographs featuring 43 local people and their dogs.

Melbourne City Council will now explore extending the park – possibly onto Hawke Street – creating a fenced dog off-leash area.

West Melbourne dog owner Anthony McKee said he was excited by the proposal. He said before a crackdown on off-leash rules, Hawke and Adderley Street Park had fostered a strong sense of community among dog-owners.

Now dog owners had to walk to off-leash parks in neighbouring suburbs or drive to Royal Park – often in peak traffic, he said.

Melbourne City councillor Cathy Oke said the residents had launched a positive and creative campaign that had impressed the council.

She said it was too risky for the council to allow dogs off leads in the same space as a playground and the extension of the park was a good compromise.

The council will now investigate partial road closures around the park and begin community consultation, Cr Oke said.