A guide to local off-leash dog parks
January 3rd, 2009 | By: Denise Stringfellow
Most devoted dog owners are familiar with the mantra coined by television’s popular ‘dog whisperer’ – Exercise first, before Discipline and Affection.
But many of us find that providing our pooch the appropriate amount of exercise – some experts recommend up to two hours every day – is difficult to do. The primary roadblocks to getting Abby her aerobics are time constraints and suburban leash laws. This is where local off-leash dog parks can really come in handy.
Off leash dog parks offer many advantages for younger, social dogs and their owners, providing a dedicated area where dogs can run and frolic the way nature intended – off leash and using all their available energy. Many dogs won’t self-exercise in the backyard, and most will play harder and longer with a playmate, be it human or canine. So these dog-friendly parks make it easier to for you to exercise your dog efficiently and have fun doing it.
Although dogs in our community have enjoyed Marymoor Park (Redmond) and Luther Burbank Park (Mercer Island) off-leash areas for years, there are three excellent off-leash parks right here in the Issaquah-Snoqualmie Valley.
Issaquah Highland’s “Bark Park”, on Magnolia Street, is the city’s first off-leash park and open to all dogs except pit bulls. There, you’ll find a nice gazebo, viewing benches, and a separate area for small dogs. The two-acre, all-grass field features both steep and flat areas for different kinds of exercise. Stocked with a water fountain (watch out – the human side shoots straight up!) and waste bags, it’s also surrounded by nice walking trails, great for cooling down your panting pooch. On the down side, the fence is only four feet high, a height that many dogs can easily jump, and the field can be a bit muddy after heavy rainfall.
Like the ‘Bark Park’, the two acre off-leash area at Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish also features a special area for small dogs (under 30 pounds.) Fenced five feet high, there’s a gated section where you can ready your dog for leash-free play, which is a nice feature. There are plenty of waste bags, benches for owners to sit and watch the fun, and a nice trail that leads through the woods. Very shady, this is a nice park for flat-faced and double coated breeds, which can easily overheat in the hot sun. Park in the main lot (a challenge if games are going on at the ballfields) and walk along the path behind the fields to the off-leash area.
Further off the Plateau, but still close by, is the off-leash area near Snoqualmie’s Meadowbrook Slough. A natural area with a magnificent view of Mt. Si, there is a picnic table, a walking path, for owners to keep out of the fray, and access to the Slough for swimming. Dogs coming here should be under voice control, however, as there are no security fences – only blackberry stands. Once your pet has a good frolic, leash up and walk out the back gate to the adjacent Snoqualmie Valley Trail, where you can enjoy miles of trail with other hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.
While these parks are truly wonderful, not all dogs are geared for this type of exercise and interaction. Off-leash areas are not good for dogs who are extremely fearful, predatory, or have no social skills. They are also poor choices for very young puppies who should be socializing in a more structured environment, such as a supervised puppy class or with just one or two pre-evaluated playmates. But if your dog is just right for an off-leash park, have fun exploring and enjoying these very nice areas.
