This year, I woke up on the first of January wondering if I should make a New Year’s resolution. How many times had I repeated the same promises, year after year, and failed? Generally, my commitment would wane come February. So I waited until February to decide, and picked a casual, fun project: visiting every designated dog park in California.
In the early 1980s, two friends and I co-founded the first dog park in the U.S. – Ohlone Dog Park. It was a fenced-in area specifically for off-leash dogs, with water, tables, poop bags, and green grass provided. We called it “The Experimental Dog Park” for the longest time. Eventually we started Ohlone Dog Park Association (ODPA), a group of dog owners who keep things well maintained and stay on top of political issues. To this day, the park is flourishing. The dogs continue to run and play and act like dogs, one generation after another.
Having set my goal, I began to plan outings for Twyla and me. I soon learned there are a lot of parks out there and decided I would organize our visits into various regions. A more formal way to review the parks took shape in the form of… well, a form. I even purchased a GPS system. This was getting serious.
Soon we were obsessively visiting up to six parks in one day. Turns out three in a day is about Twyla’s limit. After that, she is clearly thinking, “Are you KIDDING me?!” Recently, at the sixth park of the day, she entered the gate, did the obligatory sniffing, found the last patch of sunlight, and fell sound asleep while dogs cavorted all around her. That night at the motel was quiet for both of us.
So far we are up to 74 California parks. We now have signs on the sides of the truck that advertise our “Dog Parking It” project, and I’m even talking to publishers. And we have so many parks yet to visit!
I now feel qualified to rate dog parks. What makes a great one? The layout and safety features are at the top of my list. The amenities are important (water, double-gates, poop cleanup supplies, shade, seating, and more shade) but I have found that what really makes a fantastic park are the people and dogs who use it.
There is a cohesive community at many parks, people with a huge assortment of dog breeds and mixes that come together in the same place on a regular basis. There are organized associations that have newsletters and fancy signs, and there are tiny little parcels of dirt that are also welcoming and friendly. Even the best designed and maintained dog park is nothing without the community.
Responsible dog owners are essential for every dog park, people who keep their dogs healthy and socialized and park-appropriate, and who take an interest in the continued cleanliness and positivity of the park and the neighborhood.
So be safe, be respectful, read the signs, and come join the community. Twyla and I hope to meet you soon!
Twyla’s Picks
Here are some of our favorite parks (so far), in no particular order.
Ohlone Dog Park, Berkeley
Hearst Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Grant Street
Comments: What, you thought this wouldn’t be in the top 10?! This park, the first in the nation, continues to improve. It’s a busy place, with the typical Berkeley laid-back feel. Users are friendly and love to talk about their pups. And they even want to hear about yours!
Amenities: Fenced, trees, tables, bulletin board, water, poop clean-up, dirt and mulch, a walkway from one end to the other for disabled accessibility, double-gated at each end.
Drawbacks: Parking may be challenging. No small dog area or restrooms. Can get muddy in the weather.
Point Isabel Dog Run, El Cerrito
End of Central Avenue to Isabel, then to the end of Isabel
Comments: There is a long asphalt walkway skirting the Richardson Bay estuary and the park sidles up to a wildlife conservation area. So many folks use this park that you’re sure to see someone you know. Great fun. And check out the dog bath and supplies facility, Mudpuppy’s, for that muddy wet pooch at the end of your romp. Next door there’s an outdoor cafe, the Sit and Stay, with the best hot cocoa in the Bay Area.
Amenities: Trees, tables and benches, bulletin boards, water, poop clean-up, grass, dirt, gravel, and disabled access. Public restrooms and plenty of parking.
Drawbacks: Only partially fenced. No small dog area, and some dogs are not controlled well by their owners. Oh, and the hot cocoa doesn’t last long enough at the Sit and Stay!
Drigon Park, Union City
7th Street at Mission Boulevard
Comments: This park is beautiful and fun. From the air, it is shaped like a dog bone! I ventured there with a very shy, under-socialized dog not long ago and the other dog owners went out of their way to help him relax and get comfortable.
Amenities: Fenced, landscaped, shade structure, water, benches and tables, poop clean-up, grass, cement walkway all around the park, agility equipment and fire hydrants everywhere, large and small dog areas, double-gated at each entrance except the east side, disabled access.
Drawbacks: The trees inside the park are small for now, so under the shade trees on the perimeter is the best place to hang out in the heat. The small dog area is… well, small. Street parking and no restrooms.
Morgan Hill Dog Park, Morgan Hill
In Community Park, Edmundson near Monterey Street
Comments: We arrived during the first anniversary celebration of the park’s inception. The Morgan Hill Dog Owners Group (MHDOG) is a very active park organization that runs the park and handles maintenance with plenty of elbow grease and love. Many of the people were welcoming and their dogs were friendly.
Amenities: Fenced, trees, water, benches, poop clean-up, grass and dirt, small dog area, double-gated entrance, disabled access at gates, bulletin board. The park is very green and large trees keep things cool. Public restrooms and plenty of parking.
Drawbacks: There’s not a party every weekend.
Heather Farms Dog Park, Walnut Creek
Ygnacio Boulevard, inside Heather Farms Park
Comments: A spacious and nicely landscaped park. Very busy, with a lot of social interaction and a lot of laughter. Good running area for both large and small dogs.
Amenities: Fenced, trees, water, benches, poop clean-up, grass and cement walkways, disabled access, double-gated, small dog area. Public restrooms and plenty of parking.
Drawbacks: Only one double-gated entry area that can get bottlenecked.
Dog Bone Meadow, Novato
Novato Boulevard near San Marin Drive
Comments: One of Twyla and my favorite parks, very relaxed and well kept-up. The people are social and friendly. Large area for running, grass surrounded by a walking path on the perimeter, with agility equipment all the way around!
Amenities: Fenced, trees, shade structure, water, benches and tables, agility equipment, poop clean-up, parking, grass and dirt with gravel, double-gated.
Drawbacks: Cool and windy at times. Shade is mostly on the perimeter. No restrooms.
Joaquin Miller Park Dog Park, Gizmoland Small Dog Park, Oakland
Joaquin Miller Boulevard, entrance at Sanborn Street (near the ranger station)
Comments: ODOG is quite active and involved with the park(s) in Oakland. Special events sometimes planned. While I have yet to visit when there are lots of people, everyone is very supportive.
Amenities: Fenced, trees outside of fences, water, benches and logs along edges of park, small dog area on lower terrace level, poop clean-up, chips and mulch, double-gated. Restrooms at the ranger station. Parking on the lower level.
Drawbacks: The wood chips are large and can be rough on small dog feet. Can be very sunny and hot.
Hellyer Park Dog Run, San Jose
985 Hellyer Avenue entrance, near Shadowbluff area
Comments: This park sits at the top of a hill inside Hellyer Park. When Twyla and I visited, there was a special gathering of Doodles… Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, and oodles of others. The park is in great shape. Everyone was welcoming and talkative.
Amenities: Fenced, trees, water, benches, parking, poop clean-up, grass and dirt, double-gated, one entrance.
Drawbacks: The main park charges a fee of $6 for entrance, but it only hurts for a minute. No small dog area or restrooms. Closed on rainy days.
Freelance writer Gail S. Green, CPDT, has been a behaviorist/trainer in the Bay Area for over 38 years and is a member of APDT. She is owned by her Border Terrier mix, Twyla-Bug, and her Budgie, Hatch. If you have a special dog park in your area (California only), please let Gail know. You can reach her at taxismom5@yahoo.com.
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