If you have lived for any length of time with a dog in Washington DC, there has come a time when you think about letting your furry friend run free to sniff, pee and play. Unfortunately, here in DC, dogs and their owners have somewhat limited options. So hhere are the dog parks in DC?
First, it’s important to note that almost every green space, from parks to patches of green at intersections around the city are under the jurisdiction of the National Park Police. In the District, there are more than 167 open spaces that are considered part of the National Park Service. Off leash dogs are illegal in these areas and depending on the mood of the Park Service authorities, this can mean a warning to owners to leash their pets to tickets and in some cases, far worse.
Keeping that in mind, dog owners who want to let their dogs off leash should be aware of the risks in so doing. Here on Capitol Hill, two of the more popular, less-than-legal dog play areas are in the middle of Lincoln Park and on the east side of Stanton Park in NE. Garfield Park in SE is also a place that dogs are seen frolicking. However, there is one city sanctioned dog park on Capitol Hill and a members only dog area at the Congressional Cemetery.
About ten years ago, there was a movement of sorts to create legal off leash dog play areas in DC. The National Park Service did not cooperate in creating these spaces but the District of Columbia government recognized the need and worked with dog activists to come up with rules for siting off leash areas in the city. While it is a cumbersome process, several places in the city are designated leash free.
Dog Parks in DC
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation has designated the following locations as dog parks in DC:
| Dog Park Name | Ward | Location |
| Chevy Chase Dog Park | 3 | 41st & Livingston Sts., NW |
| Francis Dog Park | 2 | 25th & M Sts., NW |
| Gage – Eckington Dog Park | 1 | 286 V St., NW |
| Guy Mason Dog Park | 3 | 3600 Calvert St., NW |
| Kingsman Dog Park | 6 | D St. & Tennessee Ave., NE |
| Lansburgh Dog Park | 6 | M St. & Delaware Ave., SW |
| Langdon Dog Park | 5 | 2901 20th St., NE |
| Newark Street Dog Park | 3 | 39th & Newark Sts., NW |
| S Street Dog Park | 2 | 17th & S Sts., NW |
| Shaw Dog Park | 2 | 11th St. & Rhode Island Ave., NW |
| Upshur Dog Park | 4 | 4300 Arkansas Ave., NW |
| Walter Pierce Dog Park | 1 | 20th & Calvert Sts., NW |
Off Leash Areas Near the City
If you want to explore a bit further outside of the District, Arlington County has developed a number of off leash spaces in various parks in the county. While I have not been to all of these areas, the dog spaces at 4 Mile Run in Shirlington is a very large enclosed space that can accommodate dozens of dogs safely. Here are other designated dog areas in Arlington County:
| Benjamin Banneker Park 1701 North Van Buren Street Arlington, VA 22205 Lights on until 8 p.m. |
James Hunter Park 1230 N. Hartford Street Arlington, VA 22201 CCA area closes at 9 p.m. |
| Fort Barnard At the corner of South Pollard Street and South Walter Reed Drive Lights on until 9 p.m. |
Shirlington Park * 2710 S. Oakland Street Arlington, VA 22206 Closed at sunset |
| Fort Ethan Allen Park 3829 North Stafford Street Arlington, VA 22207 Lights on until 7 p.m. |
Towers Park 801 South Scott Street Arlington, VA 22204 Lights on until 10 p.m. |
| Glencarlyn Park * 301 South Harrison Street Arlington, VA 22204 Closed at sunset |
Utah Park 3191 South Utah Street Arlington, VA 22206 Closed at sunset |
So now that the weather is warmer, exploring the dog friendly spaces in and near the city is a must. Enjoy!
