Happiness is watching a dog run and play and join you in your daily activities. From taking walks at area parks, enjoying patio time together or just having a place to play, Oklahoma City is upping its dog game.
DOG PARK DELIGHTS
The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation has a perfect playground for pups at the PAW Park at 3303 NW Grand Blvd. The park has 2 acres of off-leash play space with separated spaces for large dogs and small dogs. Water stations, a swimming pond and benches for human visitors round out to make this dog park a place to romp in the sun.
PAW Park is operated and maintained in cooperation with Partners for Animal Welfare of Oklahoma. This nonprofit, volunteer organization takes care of the park grounds and raises funds for park improvements.
The PAW Park is such a favorite for dog lovers that it even gained national accolades. Dog Fancy, the world’s most widely read dog magazine, announced its picks for its annual America’s Best Dog Parks contest, and PAW OK was ranked one of the top 13 in the United States.
The Midtown Mutts Dog Park is one of the city's newest parks. Located at 407 W. Park Place, it is a smaller park designed to give area apartment pups a way to get out and play, but it's in easy walking distance to a lot of great dog-friendly patios and businesses.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City also offers a small off-leash dog enclosure on the southeast side of the grounds. With the exception of PAW Park and Myriad Gardens Dog Park, all dogs must be on a leash when in city parks. No dogs are allowed at Martin Park Nature Center.
So where are some other great dog parks in the OKC metro area? The Edmond Dog Park at Bickham-Rudkin Park, 379 E. 33rd St, is a 5-acre dog park with off-leash exercise. The park includes a separate area for small pets, benches, trees and lake access for doggy swimming.
Wiggly Field Dog Park at Ray Trent Park in Del City, 4501 Tinker Diagonal, has a separate small dog area and lots of trees, turf, lights, play equipment, chairs, water fountains and paths. Let your dog try out some of the play equipment to get added exercise.
Get some water fun at the Fred Quinn Happy Tails Dog Park at 8700 E. Reno Ave. in Midwest City. This dog park is a 3-acre off-leash dog park located in Joe B. Barnes Regional Park that features a nature-friendly design, plenty of shade, a dry-bed creek with crossing bridges, large open areas of grass for running and playing, a water feature pond for swimming and cooling off and three separated areas for dogs to explore.
The park includes an area for small, older and disabled dogs to enjoy with trees, grassy running ground and mounds. A second area is for large dogs, and the third area features a concrete water pond. Keep an eye out because this park has room for future events such as doggy birthday parties, doggy weddings or other events to be held.
No excuses! Grab the leash, and get out for some canine companionship in Oklahoma City.