Get Some Off The Leash Fun At A Chicagoland Dog Park

A walk on the town is only as great as the dog and the town (and maybe your running shoes of course.) But have you ever wondered about where else you can take your dog walking? Chicagohas a ton of places you and your pooch can trek to and give them some valuable time off the leash where they can play with other dogs.

Dogs are social creatures too and it’s a lot of fun to spend time with fellow dog walkers. Chicago is one of the best cities for dog park hangouts that you can let your dog play in. So take some time for off the leash fun!

Remember to register your dog before you go!

Since September 2005, all dogs have required an annual permit and tags that must be held by their dog walker. Chicago dog park permitsare easy to get, just check in with any participating Chicagoland veterinary office and they’ll help you figure out what paperwork you need to get the permit and tag. It’s only a $5 fee and the permit is good from January 1st to December 31st for that given year. For more information, check out the Chicago Park Districts website.

Hamlen Dog Park

A pea gravel covered and fenced off dog park, it sports a fenced in area so you can let your dog off its leash. The gravel makes for easy clean up and there is a grassy area perfect for playing fetch with your dog. Walking Chicago is always a lot of fun with parks like these.

Keep in mind that Hamlen Dog Park doesn’t sport any extra amenities (such as a dog fountain) for their Chicago dogwalkers. You’ll want to bring your own waste bags and a bowl with a bottle of water for your pooch.

Wicker Park

Dedicated to having fun with your family, Wicker park has a .14 acre facility on their southeast corner specifically for dog walkers. Chicagosports a few off the leash areas, and this is another one of them. Taken care of my local community members, it frequently sports a small pool for the dogs in the summer.

Wicker Park has fresh water for your dog and features asphalt and pea gravel.

Wiggly Field

This 3 acre fenced in dog park is a favorite among dog walkers. Chicago managed; it has plenty of space for your pooch to stretch their legs alongside you on their trails and even has a pond for dogs to swim in. Children under the age of 10 are not permitted.

This park features a separate small dog area and dog fountains. It’s a great location to spend a few hours, just be advised that there are not any restrooms.

Grant Park Dog Park

This park is a well maintained and clean park, sporting a larger size than most of the parks for a dog walker. Chicago volunteers known as the south Loop Dog Pac maintain it very well. There are plenty of benches, a large paved area for running and a gravel area that makes picking up after your dog easy.

This park sports fresh water fountains for your dog and even waste bags. While it doesn’t have a small dog area, a lot of people come here for the friendly atmosphere.

As always, remember to keep a close eye on your dog and don’t bring an aggressive troublemaker into dog parks; part of being a good dog owner means taking care of your dog and not hazarding the health of other people’s pets! But so long as you have a friendly dog and do your part to keep the parks clean, these are fantastic places to bring your dog and let them play with other dogs. Your dog will love you for it!