A man’s best friend, dogs, are well-loved and popular companions for all kinds of people. Whether you need a jogging partner or someone to snuggle up with you at the end of a long day, dogs make great household additions and are furry and friendly sweethearts you’ll be sure to fall in love with.
However, your furry pal needs regular exercise if they’re going to stay healthy and happy with you in your house. Check out these ten recommendations for the best on-leash and off-leash dog parks in your area as well as the best dog parks in Charlotte!
1. Frazier Dog Park
This local park is considered to be the best dog park in Charlotte by many local dog lovers.
Featuring entertainment areas for the whole family, including a playground, soccer fields, green trails for walking, and a spacious dog park, this is the perfect place to let your furry friend roam free.
Why We Like It
The dog park is close to the other convenient features of the park but is separate enough that you can let your dog run off-leash and feel safe doing so. The fence enclosing the dog park section is a healthy six feet so there’s plenty of protection for your pup.
2. Reedy Creek Dog Park
A spacious 146-acre park, Reedy Creek is another beautiful lakeside park with plenty of walking trails and space for your puppy to enjoy.
With a lakeside meadow that skirts nearby water and three separate ponds to visit and enjoy, Reedy Creek is full of natural beauty and exploration for you and your puppy.
Why We Like It
The classic park is huge and features plenty of open space for on-leash walking for you and your dog, but there’s also an additional fenced-in area for your puppy to run leash-free. If you’re looking for off-leash space, this park has got plenty of it.
3. Shuffletown Park
This convenient urban park features a comfortable acreage for you to take your furry best friend to for some fun games of fetch and a chance to socialize with other pets.
Walk across the baseball fields and soccer fields on-leash for some open-air exploration of the nearby environment or head to the dog park for some structured off-leash fun.
Why We Like It
The open fields are great for puppies who love to run. Even though your dog will need to be on leash when they’re not in fenced-in areas, there’s still plenty of space to roam and even jog alongside your little (or big) pup.
4. McAlpine Creek Park
This 114-acre county park is a beautiful waterfront park with plenty of places for your dog to exercise both on and off-leash.
A lake and fishing pier provide some opportunities for water-loving furry friends to get in the water and splash, while you can also take them to the dog park for off-leash socializing with other puppy pals.
Why We Like It
The water access is a great feature of this dog park. Swimming with your pup is always fun in the lake, and games of fetch become even more fun when you can toss them out and have your little guy doggy paddle back to you.
5. William R. Davie Park
Spacious and boasting its own special dog par, the William R. Davie Dog Park is one of the highlights of Charlotte.
Featuring over 140 acres of land and an enfenced area for off-leash play, the Davie Dog Park is a fun and popular place for dogs to roam free or play fetch in a wide space that’s not just your backyard.
Why We Like It
There’s often plenty of other dogs here, making it a great place to take a dog who’s just learning to socialize with others, or a social dog who’s in need of a few other canine companions to play with for awhile.
6. Swaney Pointe K-9 Park
This beautiful park nestled within Ramsey Creek Park is a four-acre free space for puppies to play off-leash.
With two separate fenced-in areas (one for small dogs and one for large dogs) your pup can play with friends their own size and get a chance to stretch their legs in a larger free space.
Why We Like It
The dividing of free space by dog size is a thoughtful detail that not many other dog park features. The tendency of larger dogs to run into or even hurt smaller dogs is common, so dividing them up from the get-go creates a safer space for every dog.
7. Midwood Park
This beautiful forested park is a lovely shaded place to walk with your dog to escape the hot summer sun.
Open grassy fields and a beautiful amphitheater provide plenty of space to walk and rest and the trees and wooded areas give your puppy lots of room to play.
Why We Like It
Wood and shade are hard to find in Charlotte, and Midwood Park delivers on both of these promises. During the hot summer, this is a great way to beat the heat and steal some cool exercise time with your furry pal.
8. Clarks Creek Community Park
This spacious community park features two different fenced-in dog sections with acres of land for running and exploring on and plenty of trees and woods for marking territory and overall providing an engaging terrain for puppies to explore.
Why We Like It
Acres of off-leash dog play means that your dog can explore to their heart’s content and run as far and as free as they want without the potential of getting lost, hurt, or worse. The fence is tall and protective, making sure your best buddy can run as safely and as freely as they want.
9. Lucky Dog Bark and Brew!
One of the best dog parks in the area, Lucky Dog is Charlotte’s only indoor and outdoor dog park. Come with your dog and enjoy some drinks at the local bar, or just come to enjoy the music and drinks while furry friends play and explore instead.
The facility also offers daycare, boarding, and grooming services.
Why We Like It
The indoor/outdoor dog park facility is a great feature for when the weather just isn’t right but your dog still needs some exercise. Whether it’s too hot, too rainy, or both, your pup can still play to their heart’s content at Lucky Dog.
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10. AquaPups
If your puppy likes a-traditional dog park, AquaPups is the place for them.
The only in-ground, indoor, year-round swimming pool for dogs in Charlotte, your puppy can enjoy aquatic fun every day through their many open swim times and offerings.
Why We Like It
With AquaPups Swim memberships, you can access assisted swims and private swim times for your puppy to play, as well as swim lessons and socialization classes that help make your dog familiar with the water.
Dog parks are the best way for you and your furry friend to bond and play together. Charlotte offers some of the best outdoor locations for dog parks and play, and any of these on or off-leash dog parks will help you and your dog make great memories and enjoy some spectacular exercise and activity outdoors.
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