The good people at Helpinganimals.com polled their visitors and came up with a list of the ten best dog parks in North America:
1. Point Isabel Dog Park
2701 Isabel St.
Richmond, California
510-562-PARK
Point Isabel is home to the United States’ largest public off-leash dog park. Dogs love sprinting across the park’s fields and trails, rolling in the mud, and swimming in the bay. Their human companions love the breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, and the San Francisco Bay. At the end of your fun-filled afternoon, scrub down your dirty hound at Mudpuppy’s Tub & Scrub, a self-service dog wash, and enjoy a cup of vegetarian soup from Mudpuppy’s Sit and Stay Café.
2. Millie Bush Bark Park
16756 Westheimer Pkwy.
Houston Texas
713-523-5235
Named after former “first dog” Millie Bush, this is truly the “presidential suite” of dog parks. Houston’s premiere, 15-acre dog park features walking trails, three ponds with special wooden decking to help canine swimmers in and out, colorful faux fire hydrants, dog showers, and even special doggie drinking fountains. Benches, shady areas, and picnic tables make this park the perfect place for you and your pal to pass the afternoon.
3. Shaggy Pines Dog Park
3895 Cherry Lane Ave. S.E.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
616-676-9464
Fido will feel like the king of the mountain when he’s playing on Shaggy Pines’ “Doggy Mountain,” a giant heap of sand that’s perfect for climbing and digging. You and your buddy can get some exercise on the 1-mile jogging and hiking trail that winds through the park’s towering pines, rolling hills, and wide-open spaces, or you can sit back and relax on the Sunset Deck overlooking the swimming pond. At the end of the day, rinse Fido off in Shaggy Pines’ self-serve dog wash, and treat him to a yummy biscuit or a new toy from the Doggie Boutique.
4. Rocky Top Dog Park
4106 State Hwy. 27
Princeton, New Jersey
732-297-6527
Every dog is “top dog” at Rocky Top Dog Park, a grassy, 2-acre canine playground that’s surrounded by 70-foot-tall trees. Dogs love to swim in the park’s pond, which even has its own waterfall. “Small Dog Socials” and puppy playgroups give dogs a chance to hang out with each other, and the park even offers a “Day Tripper” service that will pick up dogs, take them to the park while you are at work, and return them to your home after work.
5. Totoredaca Leash Free Park
2715 Meadowvale Blvd.
Mississauga, Ontario Canada
Affectionately known as “Toto” to its loyal members, Totoredaca Leash Free Park features a challenging agility course, a wading pool where dogs can cool their paws, and plenty of room to romp around with other dogs or fetch tennis balls. Humans appreciate the picnic tables with umbrellas, a large sunshade, a fenced-in play area for kids, and even an area for lighting fires to take the chill off during the winter months.
6. Quiet Waters Dog Park
600 Quiet Waters Park Rd.
Annapolis, Maryland
410-222-1777
Anyone who’s ever been frustrated when trying to find a “dogs allowed” beach will appreciate Quiet Waters’ dog beach—where dogs are encouraged to take a dip but humans aren’t allowed in the water! There’s plenty for people to do at the park, too, from ice skating and renting a boat to walking, biking, or jogging more than 6 miles of scenic paved trails. Separate areas for large dogs and small or elderly dogs ensure that all of the park’s canine visitors have a fabulous time, and the dog-rinsing station ensures that your vehicle’s interior stays mud-free, even if your dog gets filthy.
7. Indianapolis Humane Society Pet & People Park
7929 N. Michigan Rd.
Indianapolis, Indiana
317-872-5650, ext. 109
Located on the grounds of the Humane Society of Indianapolis, this park is the perfect place to give your pooch much-needed exercise and connect with other “dog people.” The 1.5-mile park’s wooded trails and agility course will have your dog snoozing soundly in the car on the way home.
8. Warren G. Magnuson Park
7400 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle, Washington
206-684-4946
If Lassie likes retrieving tennis balls from the water, she’ll love Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle’s only off-leash dog park with water access. The park’s pebble-covered beach is frequently filled with dogs of all shapes and sizes who charge into Lake Washington after tennis balls. The 9-acre park features a mile-long winding path to the beach, which is wheelchair-accessible. There is a separate area for small and shy dogs.
9. Riverside Park
Riverside Drive at W. 72nd, W. 87th, and W. 105th
New York, New York
Riverside Park is a tranquil getaway within the city, where apartment-bound dogs and their humans can stretch their legs and make new friends. The park features three off-leash dog runs at 72nd, 87th, and 105th streets. Dog-friendly amenities at these runs include a sanitary and dust-free crushed-gravel surface, fountains, hoses, and separate areas for small and shy dogs. If mingling with other canines isn’t your dog’s thing, take him or her for a leashed walk along the park’s four miles of scenic Hudson riverfront, or play off-leash almost anywhere in the park between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.
10. Bea Arthur Dog Park
501 Front St.
Norfolk, Virginia
This 1-acre dog park features a large expanse of lawn, double-gated entrance, a water station, a toy bin, a shaded picnic area, and an easy-access ramp for dog-paddling in the Elizabeth River. But we think its biggest perk is the fact that it’s located right in the back yard of the international headquarters of the largest animal rights organization in the world-it’s PETA’s dog park, of course!