Dog parks in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor parks and recreation services provides three off-leash dog play areas in city parks, both open during the parks' regular hours, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. An annual permit is required for access to the designated off-leash areas. Dog park permits/tags and licenses are on sale in the Ann Arbor City Clerk's Office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
Entrance to any pop-up dog parks are included with all purchased
dog park permits.
There are three options for applying for your dog park permit:
Dog Park Grand Opening Event
Bring your pups and unleash the fun at the grand opening, Saturday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at ballfield #4. Join us for an afternoon filled with tail-wagging excitement, free giveaways (while supplies last) and a photo backdrop to capture the memories. It’s the perfect outing for you and your four-legged friends to explore this new off-leash space.
Swift Run Park
The joint city-county Swift Run Dog Park is located at the northeast corner of the Swift Run landfill. It is bounded on the north by Ellsworth Road and on the east by Platt Road. The 10-acre Swift Run Dog Park is maintained in partnership with Washtenaw County with financial contributions from both the city and county.
Olson Park
An off-leash dog play area is also located at
Olson Park, in the south-central portion of the park. The park is at 1505 Dhu Varren Road (northeast corner), between Pontiac Trail and Birchwood Drive. The dog park is just under an acre in size.
An off-leash dog play area is located at
Broadway Park, which is just north of downtown at 800 Broadway Street along the Huron River. There are designated areas for small and large dogs. The dog park is 1.37 acres in size.
Veterans Memorial Park (Pop-Up)
In alignment with our commitment to creating "Green Spaces, Happy Places," the City of Ann Arbor is introducing its first pop-up dog park, located at
Veterans Memorial Park Field #4, from Nov. 15-April 20. This temporary dog park pilot responds to increasing community interest in accessible, dedicated spaces for pets and their owners to exercise and connect with others. Through this initiative, the city aims to explore options and gather feedback on the potential for a permanent off-leash dog area. During the pilot, city staff will gather insights through surveys, visitor counts and community events. Located within ballfield #4 (the northeast field along Dexter Ave.), the Veterans Memorial Pop-Up Dog Park offers 1.4 acres of space and is open daily from dawn (6 a.m.) to 10 p.m., with lighting provided from approximately 4:30-10 p.m. to facilitate evening use.
All dogs are welcome, though please note that there are no separate areas designated for small and large dogs. Standard dog park rules and regulations apply, including licensing and permit requirements (entrance to any pop-up dog parks are included with all purchased
dog park permits). We encourage responsible use by all visitors to help make this pilot a success. Thank you for joining us in bringing more happy places to our community.
Permits
An annual off-leash dog permit is required for access to the designated off-leash areas. The permitting requirement enables the city to provide safe environments in off-leash dog play areas for users and their pets.
The permitting process requires owners to provide health and safety documentation, specifically current rabies vaccination certificate and dog license, and a waiver and release form to comply with established rules for use of dog play areas. Dog owners must have their dog licensed with the city, county, or other municipal jurisdiction to apply for an off-leash dog permit. A list of frequently asked questions, below, can provide more information or you can download and view this link for the
dog park packet. You may also apply at
stream.a2gov.org.
If you would prefer a paper copy of the dog park registration form, please visit the City of Ann Arbor clerk's office at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., second floor from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dog park?
A dog park is a location set aside for dogs and their owners to exercise and play off leash in a controlled (i.e., fenced) environment.
Does the City of Ann Arbor have a dog leash law?
Per Chapter 107, 9:47(1), the city code, it is a violation to have a dog off-leash in city parks, other than in a designated dog play area. The violation is punishable, per Chapter 107, 9:52 by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 for a first offense and for a second offense not less than $50 nor more than $500.
What are the hours of the dog parks in Ann Arbor?
Park hours are dawn to dusk (subject to closures for required maintenance operations). Under no circumstances are you permitted in the park before 6 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
If I observe a problem at the park, what should I do?
- For an emergency, or to report a bite or attack, please call 911.
- For non-emergencies or to report an aggressive animal, call 911 or the County Sheriff's Office for Animal Control, 734.994.2911.
- For maintenance, please visit
seeclickfix.com/ann-arbor.
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For Parks customer service call 734.794.6230.
Can I bring more than one dog to these parks?
No more than two dogs are permitted per handler, at one time. Professional dog trainers are not permitted to conduct training onsite.
In addition to the new dog park tag my pet will need to display, what else should I have?
Dog owners must have their dog licensed with the city, county, or other municipal jurisdiction to apply for an off-leash dog permit. Current dog licenses must be displayed.
Am I responsible for cleaning up after my dog?
Yes. A receptacle for waste will be located on site; however, we will not be providing bags or scoops. A box will also be provided for dog owners to donate bags for other park users.
What should I bring with me to the park?
Please remember to have your dog(s) license and permit tags visible at all times and that they are current. Water and bags are also recommended.
Will the dog parks be policed or monitored by the city parks and recreation services unit?
There will not be a park staff person stationed at the dog parks, however, police will monitor the areas periodically. Additionally, volunteers in the community are organizing a group to monitor the parks during peak hours.
When does my dog have to be on a leash at the park?
Dogs must be leashed at all time unless both the dog and owner are inside a designated fenced in dog play area which are located at Swift Run, Olson Park, and Broadway Park.
Why is there a fee for the dog park and what will the monies be used for?*
An annual off-leash dog permit will be required for access to the designated off-leash dog play areas. The permitting requirement will enable the city to provide safe environments in off-leash dog play areas for users and their pets.
If my pet is a service dog, do I need to purchase a dog park permit in Ann Arbor?
The fee for the permit will be waived, however, you will still be required to fill out the appropriate paperwork for an application and have the tag displayed.
Who should I contact for information about volunteer opportunities in the dog parks?
Please contact the Adopt-a-Park Program at [email protected] or 734.794.6627.
Do I need to be a resident of Ann Arbor to obtain a dog park permit?
No, anyone can use the dog parks once their pet meets the requirements to obtain a permit.
*Scholarships are available. For additional information, please call 734.794.6230.
Outreach
Community input and feedback are important to us! The desire for additional dog parks is identified in the current City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan (an element of the City Master Plan). In an effort to ensure the Park Advisory Commission is responding to this need in an appropriate manner, the public was asked for input via an online survey and a public meeting in March and April 2015. The input was to establish a decision-making process and criteria for choosing dog park locations. The minutes of the public meeting and the results of the survey, as well as the draft guidelines, are here:
The document will be presented to the Park Advisory Commission at the May 19, 2015 meeting.
After the document is approved, public meetings for any specific proposed locations for a dog park will be held, and residents within a ¼-mile radius of the proposed locations will be notified by mail.
