Your Guide To Enjoying College Station’s Dog-Friendly Parks
Article By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
In my world, the best way to explore the outdoors is with your best friend. But when your best friend is furry and has four legs, you need to find dog-friendly places. That’s an easy task in pet-friendly College Station.
We have 54 dog-friendly parks with 1,791 beautiful acres to experience. That means you can explore a new park every week for an entire year!
Just remember that city ordinance requires dogs to be leashed in most of our parks – and don’t forget to clean up after them. If you want a little more running room, check out our off-leash dog parks that offer benches, shaded areas, and open spaces for your dog to run and socialize.
DOG PARKS
Barracks Park has a fenced-in recreational area with benches and a covered shelter for owners to relax while their pups play. In addition, you can keep them hydrated with the convenient fountains at the side of the park.
Steeplechase Park is a 1.5-acre fenced-in area where your pup can release all that pent-up energy. A wash and hydration station is available when your dog needs a quick rinse, so don’t forget your towel. With a nearby play unit and a basketball court, your kids can have a little fun, too.
University Park has opportunities for small and large dogs with separate fenced-in play areas. It also has a walkway through the woods that leads to a large pond where your pup can cool off, swim, and frolic with the other dogs. The park also boasts an agility obstacle course in the large dog area and a wash and hydration station.
DESIGNATED OFF-LEASH TRAIL
Lick Creek Park offers five miles of marked trails and opportunities to explore nature with your leashed dog, except for the Raccoon Run Trail. Racoon Run is a 1.7-mile off-leash trail that gives your pup a little more room to explore. Dogs must be under voice control, and all dog park rules apply. The Lick Creek Nature Center’s hydration stations and restrooms are about a half-mile from Raccoon Run.
Before you and your dog explore these spaces, let’s review our dog park rules:
DOG PARK RULES
-Park hours are sunrise to sunset.
-Female dogs in heat aren’t permitted.
-Dogs younger than four months are not allowed in off-leash parks.
-Dogs more than four months old must be rabies vaccinated and registered with Brazos County. Registration tags can be purchased through your veterinarian or the Aggieland Humane Society (979.775.5755).
-Your dog must wear its current county and rabies vaccination tags. Registration must cover one year from the issue date in conjunction with the rabies vaccination date.
-Pets are not allowed to be free of a physical restraint (at large) beyond the boundaries of the owner’s premises or a designated dog park.
-It’s unlawful for you not to clean up after your pet on public property.
-Acts of aggression by your dog against others are prohibited. Dogs must be removed if uncontrollable.
-Handlers must not allow dogs to dig holes in the park and should cover up holes their dogs create.
-For a complete list of City of College Station animal control ordinances, visit cstx.gov/animalcontrol.