It's a dog park. Not all pet owners are cognizant of dog behavior. We had a nice visit. The off-leash area is very large with a pond. Lots of shady seating with lovely scenery. Plenty of wide open running space. Nice path for humans. Quite a few trees. Well maintained and picked up. Only a few balls left behind and no litter. I really appreciated the shady parking area. And nearby restrooms. The nicest dog park I've visited. read more

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We stop here every roadtrip. So close off i70, totally fenced in, and has shaded picnic tables to sit while your dog swims. My dog always refuses to leave the pond! There's also a little path around the pond, some dog agility training features, and a hose to rinse off. Very pleasant place read more

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if you have small dogs, i would recommend finding a different park to visit - probably one with a "small dog only" area like twin lakes, but my dog and i have been going to this park almost every day because its basically across the street from my house and he is always needing to burn off some energy. the park itself is beautiful, but there are so many owners that come to this park that do not care for the wellbeing of other (smaller) dogs, even if THEIR dog is the one going after them. there have been times where we have had to leave the park only five minutes after arriving because so many large dogs would stampede over my 7 month old toy aussie that only weighs 9 pounds. the owners will hear my dog yelping out of fear and do absolutely nothing until you ask them to take control of their dog(s). the other day, once again, there was a huge dog that would not leave my dog alone. we even moved to the other side of the park so my dog could play without being bombarded, and when that didn't work because the dog continued to go after my puppy, we started gently nudging the dog away and trying to say "okay buddy give him some space" very louder so the owner could hear, but she still did nothing. after 10 minutes of this and one last leap onto my dog that made him yelp in pain, my partner and i began yelling at the dog to leave him alone and to go back to its owner. THEN the owner decided to step in and say that us doing that wasn't necessary. not gonna lie, we yelled back very angrily and told her it is not our responsibility to handle their dog while they just sit and watch it harm other dogs. there has been sooo many instances akin to this one. it is just not safe, and it's basically every man for himself as soon as you go through the gate. read more

This park is relatively nice. However, I'm finding out how dangerous and unpredictable dog parks can be. Even when the dogs have happily played together for a good while, that same dog can begin attacking my dog without provocation. This has happened a few times. It's scary and violent! Then, because people have no desire or clue how to discipline their dog, when fights break out.. most people just stand there watching. They do not intervene. The only thing they need is popcorn and a drink. This lackadaisical attitude is very dangerous. I saw a dog get bit in the face by another dog about a month ago. He now has a hole in his face. I'm shocked at how people just stand there! If you can't discipline your dog, you don't need to have one. When people end up with a civil lawsuit and get sued for medical damages, they might wake up then. Some people are also too lazy to pick up after their dog. Other dogs do not want to romp through your dog's poo. Don't be gross, be considerate of other people. The park provides waste bags in the front entrance. No excuses. Be CONSIDERATE of others! My hat goes off to people who do not allow their dog to just get away with being aggressive with other dogs. read more

Garth Nature area has a lot going for it. First, it is easily accessible (and so close to a lot of neighborhoods, and always seems well-maintained. There are restrooms, a drinking fountain, and plenty of parking spots for the size of the park. The dog park is a decent size and has plenty of space for even the largest dogs to run around. It also has a pond for water-loving dogs. The park is open year-round, which is such a benefit for those random warm winter days we get in the Midwest. The trails are all gravel, which is something to keep in mind. There is a nice loop through some wetlands and trees that is about 1.5 miles, or you can go on a longer jaunt and connect to Cosmo Park or Bear Creek Trail. The wetlands are not something you find in most parks, and the nature lover in me especially enjoys that aspect of Garth Nature Area. If you live nearby, definitely worth checking out. read more

Garth Nature Area is a beautiful park showcasing wetland habitat. As an avid birder and outdoorsman, GNA is perfect for an early spring stroll to view wildlife of all kinds. It's amazing to think this area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, but still sees such a wonderful variety of wildlife. The trails are well-kept and connect with the Bear Creek Trail that stretches from Garland Middle School west to Rhett's Run in Cosmo Park. They are generally raised from the surrounding area and covered in crushed gravel similar to the MKT and Katy Trails. Bird boxes line the ponds and most of the ponds are covered in cattails. Park benches are dotted around for rest, reflection, or wildlife viewing. Yes, there is a fenced dog park. My dogs were never huge fans of it ... rescue dogs of high intelligence and low self-esteem. My greyhound ran around for 5 minutes and then slept. My rescue mutt stood on the table and looked in disgust at all the other dogs wanting to play. Still, for your high-energy, playful types, this place is a godsend. read more

Garth Nature Area has trails for walking and running and a large, fenced dog park. I take my dogs here regularly and the park is clean and well-maintained. My dogs love to swim in the pond or just play fetch in the huge grassy area. read more

Garth Nature Area - Sign - Dog Parks Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

This dog park was gross. It smells awful and is not kept. The pond is open for dogs to get in but is dark green and very questionable looking at best. read more