Your four-legged friend is part of the family, and what pup doesn’t love a great dog park? But how often do you see a nearby dog park listed as a feature in a residential real estate listing?
We think that unfair to Fido, so we’ve rounded up five of the best dog parks in DFW to tell you about their features and the neighborhoods within walking distance. If you want your fur baby to be as happy with your new home as you are, take notes!
BARK PARK CENTRAL
NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD: DEEP ELLUM
Located under the elevated portion of Central Expressway at the corner of Good-Latimer Expressway and Commerce, Bark Park Central is an artsy, urban dog park in the heart of Deep Ellum. You and your marvelous mutt will enjoy stellar views of downtown, surrounded by funky murals of dogs on the cement freeway pillars.
Bark Park Central is 1.2 acres, with one large space for dogs of all sizes. The park offers a dog drinking bowl and shower, a doggie obstacle course, as well as shaded areas and benches. Bonus: several dog-friendly bars and restaurants are walking distance of the park.
You can stroll to the park from of Dallas’ oldest neighborhoods, Deep Ellum, a walkable, diverse, hip area that’s been attracting people to live, work, and play since 1873. There’s a culture of creativity that permeates the streets, from murals and public art exhibitions to art galleries, live music venues, and businesses of all types.
Those who live in Deep Ellum will find historic buildings have a character and charm, like renovated lofts and warehouses. It’s pedestrian friendly, with almost everything a homeowner needs nearby, like a bakery, butcher shop, cheese maker, and a farmers market. Deep Ellum has two DART stations and is bordered by multiple highways, so the neighborhood is easily accessible.
WHITE ROCK DOG PARK
NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD: UNIVERSITY TERRACE
The White Rock Dog Park just reopened last week after $946,000 in improvements, so your pooch will frolic in style on its 3 acres. This East Dallas dog park at 8000 E. Mockingbird Ln. has large- and small-dog play areas with drinking fountains, natural stone seat wall, lots of shade trees, ornamental railings and fences, and a renovated “dog launch” spot at the lake’s edge.
Walk to White Rock Dog Park from University Terrace just to the west. This dynamic neighborhood was established in 1954 and offers a friendly community with block parties, Fourth of July parades, a mom’s group, active crimewatch volunteers, and neighborhood beautification projects. As we’ve noted before, this is the affordable Lakewood area, where you can get inside the Lakewood Elementary attendance zone in the $300K range. Most other neighborhoods that feed into Lakewood are going for $400K-plus.
WAGGING TAIL DOG PARK
NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD: BENT TREE
In Far North Dallas, pampered pups play in the seven-acre Wagging Tail Dog Park at 5841 Keller Springs Rd. It was the first dog park designed by the city of Dallas, and every detail is well-planned. Large and small dogs have their own play areas, surrounded by metal fencing with custom cut dog silhouettes. So cute!
A flagstone observation deck rises 35 feet above White Rock Creek, with views of a waterfall, and the grounds are nicely landscaped. The stone decking and seating, grill and picnic area, doggie watering area, and quarter-mile walking trail make this a premier dog park in Dallas.
The nearby Bent Tree neighborhood is posh, as well, developed with the same planning concept of the Cloisters of White Rock Lake coupled with the prestige of Highland Park. It’s the most tony neighborhood in Far North Dallas, with Bent Tree Country Club and Preston Trail Golf Club nearby. The houses in Bent Tree easily sell for half a million and up—one particularly luxe listing in Bent Tree is on the market now for $8.98 million.
JACK CARTER DOG PARK
NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD: CENTRAL PLANO
Along the Bluebonnet Trail in Plano, you’ll find hooch heaven at Jack Carter Dog Park, 2601 Pleasant Valley Dr. The two acres have separate spaces for large and small dogs with shade trees, picnic tables, benches, LED lighting, water stations for dogs and their owners, and a dog rinse station near the parking lot. A great safety feature at Jack Carter Dog Park is the “double gate” entry system at both large and small dog areas—you can bring into a holding area with an entry gate that can be closed to secure your pet before opening the inner gate leading to the park itself.
Last year, Dallas Morning News rated Central Plano a top-ten neighborhood in DFW, saying they’ve found the formula for success: strong schools (Frisco ISD), virtually nonexistent crime, and impressive parks. Because this is a large area, home prices vary hugely, but there are plenty of great properties in the $200K-$300K range.
NORTHBARK DOG PARK
NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD: HAVERWOOD MEADOWS
The largest dog park in North Texas is at the southeast corner of George Bush Turnpike and the Tollway in Far North Dallas. NorthBark Dog Park is 22.3 acres of canine delights, including a popular doggie swimming pond and a shower for after their swim (be sure to bring a towel!).
The park separates large and small pups into two large, fenced play areas, with drinking bowls and shade trees. There’s plenty of parking and porta-potties, as well as a looping trail, expansive lawn area, attractive flagstone structures, a pavilion with picnic tables, grill, and benches for relaxing.
Walk your pup to the dog park from nearby Haverwood Meadows, an upscale neighborhood with many houses backing up to a greenbelt. Though located in Dallas, Haverwood Meadows is zoned for Plano ISD and located in Collin County. Most of the houses are two stories, newer builds, and priced from $800K to $1.2 million. They’re big, too: one of the current listings is 5,482 square feet.
For current conditions of Dallas dog parks, call 214-671-8001. In Plano, the number is 972-941-BARK.
Playing Nice at the Dog Park
Follow these general guidelines at any dog park
- Pick up poop and put it in the trash
- No food or treats for you or your dog
- Kids under 12 need adult supervision
- If your dog is aggressive, or in heat, the dog park is not for you
- Keep your dog in sight at all times
- Remove any pinch, prong, or spiked collars before entering the fenced area
- Glass bottles and containers are a bad idea
- Don’t bring in more than three dogs at a time
- Know how to prevent dog fights and what to do if one breaks out
