Top Dog Parks Located in the Central United States

One of the things most dogs love is being outside, playing, running, socializing, and just enjoying the wide open space.  With all of the dog parks across the United States, there is sure to be at least one within a close distance to you.  This article will focus on a few of the dog parks in the Western United States, providing dog owners with the perfect place to not only let your dog get some air and exercise, but where you may make some new friends as well!

Before we get into the list of dog parks, you should first brush up on your dog park etiquette, making sure you are aware of the do’s and don’ts of taking Fido out to socialize.

North Dakota:

Dogs Rock USA, located in Towner, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This dog park has fenced areas for large and small dogs, ponds, benches, picnic tables, clean-up bags, restrooms, doggy water fountains, and an obstacle course.  It’s a great place to swim or hike with your dog.

Village West Dog Park, located in Fargo, is an off-leash dog park that has fenced areas for both small and large dogs.

South Dakota:

Lien Park Off-Leash Area, located in Sioux Falls, is an off-leash dog park.  Features include a picnic table, plastic bag dispenser and a trash can.

Nebraska:

Holmes Park Dog Run, located in Lincoln, is open from sunrise to midnight.  This is a 12-acre off-leash park, that is fenced with benches, tables, trees, parking, and trash.  Dogs are permitted to swim in the creek running through the park.

Waggin Tails, located in North Platte, is open dawn to dusk.  It is a fenced area for both large and small dogs, with water and seating provided.

Kansas:

Kansas Park, located in Shawnee, is open from sunrise to sunset.  Features include off-leash, tables, benches, shelter, trees, trash, and parking, and is unfenced.  There is also lake access for dogs.

Mutt Run, located in Lawrence, is open dawn to dusk.  This dog park is 30 acres of off-leash area.  The facility includes restrooms, drinking fountain and water for dogs, plus a small parking lot.  Paths are mowed through the fields and along wooded areas.

Oklahoma:

Pets and People Dog Park, located in Yukon, is open sunrise to sunset.  This is a 3.2-acre off-leash park.  Features include fenced, benches, poop bags, trees, parking, trash, water for dogs and owners, and is handicapped accessible.  Obedience training classes are offered monthly  and there is a 1/2-acre swimming pond with dog-diving pier, as well as an agility training course area.

Norman Community Dog Park, located in Norman, is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.  This dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs.

Texas:

Fort Woof, located in Fort Worth, is a five-acre dog park which sits high on a hill overlooking downtown Fort Worth.  Small dogs have their own uncommonly large one-acre space, and faux fire hydrants can be found in the park.

Mockingbird Point Dog Park, located in Dallas, is open from 5am to midnight, but is closed on Mondays.  This 2-acre off-leash park is fenced and features benches, poop bags, trash, water fountains for dogs and owners, trees, parking, and restrooms.  There is a separate, small-dog area for dogs 30 pounds and under.

Norwood Estate Dog Park, located in Austin, is a fully fenced dog park.  Well-behaved dogs can roam and play off-leash, but must be under verbal control and within your sight at all times.

Minnesota:

Franklin Terrace Dog Park, located in Minneapolis, is open from 6am to 10pm.  Features include 1.28-acre of off-leash park, fenced, poop bags, street parking, and trash.

Iowa:

Raccoon River Park Dog park, located in West Des Moines, is open 6:30am to dusk.  There is a 6 acre fenced dog park with areas for large and small dogs.

Prairie Pastures Dog Park, located in Clinton, is more than six acres of fenced in area for dogs to run, play, socialize and explore while enjoying the freedom of being off leash.

Arkansas:

Murphy Dog Park, located in Rogers, is a fenced in dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs.  There are plenty of trees and benches, toys and water, and they will soon be adding a dog bathing station.

Illinois:

Walsh Park, located in Chicago, is open sunrise to sunset.  This dog park is 4500 sq. ft, fenced, with trees and trashcans.  It is a mostly asphalted surface with a small pea gravel area and has double gating for entering and exiting.

Michigan:

E-Z Dog Park and Agility Center, located in Howell, is open from 8am to 9pm daily and is an 8-acre off-leash park that is fenced.  Features include water tubs for dogs, benches, tables, handicapped accessible, trees, poop bags, parking, restrooms, trash, and shelter.  Additional services include obedience and agility training and classes and behavior modification consultations, indoor training facilities, self-service grooming available (includes tubs, shampoo, conditioner, flea preventatives and dryers),  and an agility course for dogs.  There is a separate, fenced area for dogs that are not neutered and or have problems with other dogs.

Orion Oaks Bark Park, located in Orion, is open from sunrise to sunset.  This is a 7-acre fenced dog park with water, benches and picnic tables, and there is a swimming area in Lake Sixteen for dogs only.

Ohio:

Mount Airy Dog Park, located in Cincinnati, is open sunrise to sunset.  This dog park is 2-acres, off-leash, fenced, with poop bags, benches, tables, handicapped accessible, trees, parking, restrooms, water for dogs and owners, trash, and shelter.

Kentucky:

Kenton Paw Park, located in Covington, includes two enclosed areas for off-leash, fresh water, picnic tables, park benches, many shade trees, double gated entrance, small dog area, litter bags, all in a beautiful creek setting.

Tennessee:

Shelby Farms Off-Leash Dog Park, located in Memphis, is 3-acres that is fenced, with parking, water, trash, benches, and tables.

Alabama:

Keisel Park, located in Auburn, is open sunrise to sunset.  The park is fenced and features benches, trees, ponds, trails, parking, restrooms, shelter, water, and trash.

Rhodes Park, located in Jefferson, is a large park with plenty of room for dogs to run and play.  The area is not fenced, so be sure to bring the leash.