We stopped by this dog park to tire out our corgis before the snow storm came. We wouldn't go out of our way to visit it (the floor is a bit like dusty sand and our dogs were filthy afterwards ). In addition, there was some poop around the park- it wasn't the cleanest. But, if we lived nearby, we'd probably pop in due to convenience, as it is quite large for the middle of a city. read more

Decent dog park. Lots of dogs most of the time, except if it's sunny. Even then sometimes people brave the weather and find shade under the trees, which is nice. There's a pool area for dogs to cool off in. Poop bags available if management keeps up with restocking, which at times they don't. Downsides are the play area is sand so dog gets dusty or dirty from sand if had a swim and parking after work hours is a nightmare because all parking gets taken and you're forced to park further away or you might not even find anything and have to leave. Also parts of the sand is covered in poop from owners not picking up so you'll need to watch your step. My favorite park is the one in falls church so I no longer come to this one read more

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Decreasing Quality and Dangerous for Pets: Yes, it's a city. Yes, there are inherent imperfections. But this is spiraling in the wrong direction. It use to not always be like this. It's unfortunate how the bad apples can be so bad, you can no longer afford to just look the other way. You have to vote with your feet. Some observations: Dog Park: - Dog park rule #3 is 99% of the time never followed. It states aggressive dogs should be removed immediately from the park. Instead, most owners are negligent and rationalize the aggressive, even out right violent behaviors. - It's always the victim dogs who have to leave. The aggressive dogs get to stay, play and return freely. I honestly don't know how those owners have a clear conscious with some of the things the community has seen and experienced. - I.e. we've seen dogs (of all sizes) get surrounded and attacked (no, not playing. Sometimes mauled. Some dogs leave bleeding. A few we know needed stitches) by others with little to no intervention except by the owner of the mauled (unless the mauler is following y'all out the gate. Then the maulers' owners will come grab it...so it doesn't go on the street. Not to help you). After one such incident, the owner cited rule #3 to the maulers' owner. She was booed by that owner and most of the park and told to "go away". Her dog was crying. She looked like she was about to cry, too. My friends and I were in shock watching this. We left, too. We never saw her again at the park. Such stories are unfortunately not unique. - Animal Control does not live up to what it could be. To the point that we don't even know why it exists anymore. From my friends, neighbors and my experience, they say they can ONLY do something if you STAY INSIDE the park until help arrives 10-30 minutes later. Staying in the line of danger, around at that point patently dangerous/uncontrolled dogs, sometimes with a bleeding pet. No way. - Also, don't dare throw your body between your dog and the attacker, or even pick up your dog while the other corners, surrounds jumps and snaps at you. No pushing or kicking or even a bad word. Same. It'll be called "disciplining the other dog" (wtf). We've seen people pick up others' dogs and shake them "for fun" until the dogs were so scared, they cried and peed even though they were walking by without noticing those people. Then those people yell across the park at that dogs' owner and blame them for the dog ruining their clothes. Also some owners yelling at other owners, who have a poop bag in hand and are visible en route traversing the park pick up the poop, that they aren't picking it up fast enough. These accusers tend to be the same people who look the other way then their dog attacks another. Wtf is wrong with some people... - We use to go here multiple times a day (early mornings, after work, and mid-days on weekends) and just put up with the occasional aggressive dog and equally irresponsible owners. Since COVID, negligence and dog fights have sky rocketed, for dogs of all size. - I.e. Aggressive big dog owners will drive from elsewhere in NoVa and lecture long-time calm small-medium dog owners who live across the street to the park to "go find another park". Wtf? This is the type of lack of logic and lack of enforcement we're talking about. It is so unfortunate b/c it use to be (and still is, albeit only in theory or if you own an aggressive dog), a uniting forum for the local community. Gardens: - The garden areas around the park are generally well kept. The flowers and trees are gorgeous. But smokers, unleashed dogs (outside the dog park), small children left alone to walk by the busy streets (including a nearby kindergarten who scream in the park early in the morning, with no regard to neighbors and little oversight of the toddlers running sometimes into the street!), rubbish (including condoms, broken glass and chicken bones) and at times very aggressive homeless people are common. Always been so surprised Arlington law enforcement isn't more keen on helping more homeless into shelters vs. occupying the James Hunter Dog Park, and worse the Clarendon Metro Park and book casing local business storefronts asking for money and sometimes high and yelling profanities.  It is very disconcerting. Background: - Our apartment faces this dog park. We've lived here for 3 + years. So when we're not physically in the park, (especially with telework), we can still see what's going on at all times of the day. We now mainly just walk the neighborhoods. Much safer. Only construction workers stare and cat call there. read more

James Hunter Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

So I dont know why this park gets mixed reviews. Its not just for dogs! I was able to walk around it myself without a dog or dog-like object and I did not receive any weird looks. I notice the park was nice and gravelly and has a nice quasi running track ish around the outside of it partly and also a way to sit down and admire the dogs and people from outside the park. And how can you miss the portal to the netherworld right in front? It looks like a hatch where maybe you can keep spare dogs or maybe a secret bat cave but for dog heroes so like a dog-bat-cave? Im serious. Check out my photos of the portal / hatch. You could definitely even fit humans down there. Maybe they were thinking ahead in case you forget sunscreen in 2100 and your hair starts catching on fire without your solar shade hat? I sometimes wish I were a dog with a nice owner that took me to parks like this for air and to poop. Instead I have to somehow scramble and find a public restroom and feel guilted into buying something for pooping there. Dogs dont feel that! They dont get forced to buy things to poop! They get petted and coaxed to poop actually. We need more dog parks around but also human accessible. Maybe in the future we will have parks where humans can walk around and find nice spots to poop and pee as well. read more

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This used to be the Clarendon park but they re did it recently and it's pretty nice. It's mostly sand with some fake grass. Plenty of space for dogs to run. Bunch of chairs and sitting areas. There were dog bowls for water, no toys though. Secured fencing all around. Double fencing for in/out entrance. The only bad thing is that it didn't have any shade at all which was kinda sad since it's hot outside. But otherwise great dog park! read more

James Hunter Park - Only shade... So hot. OMG - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I have seen RACCOONS who congregate here after dark to feast on leftover dog treats. Big disease risk.

I would recommend this dog park on the condition that you're probably going to have to bathe your dog after you leave. This is because the ground is mostly a sand/gravel mix that gets everywhere. Slobbery sandy tennis balls, sand all inside your shoes and socks, and sand all over your dog. Which is a shame, because there are lots of nice features in the park - huge area for dogs to run so it rarely feels crowded, plenty of seating, and poop bags and drinking water spigots readily available. You also can't beat the location, which is tucked away right off the main Clarendon drag so it's a great stop on your way to/from a meal with your pooch. But the sand/gravel that covers most of the ground ensures your dog is going to leave covered in dirt and grit. There are a few other particularly disappointing features - practically no shade, a water feature that isn't sectioned off (meaning your dog can run in before you know it and then get muddy in the sand/dirt), and no area for small dogs. Also keep in mind parking can be tight given the popularity of the neighborhood. read more

James Hunter Park - Currently empty water feature. Not sure it was the best idea to put it without some way of controlling dog access. - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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To some the Clarendon Dog Park is an eyesore...the kind you keep rubbing at but it just never gets better or goes away. But for those of us that frequent this little urban oasis, it's a GEM! Now, granted, I live across the street with my dog. Perhaps that makes me biased, but I'd like to think that I just have the "Reviewer's Advantage!" As the only Arlington County Recognized Community Canine Area (...breathe...) in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, this park on about an acre of land sees A LOT of the local dogs. The park looks the way it does primarily because of community squabbles and county neglect for many years. But last year was triumphant! Arlington County finally added the Clarendon Dog Park to its "Official" list. And now the tennis balls are rolling for a master renovation plan. (More on that later...) What makes this park my favorite in Arlington is the unique community aspect. There is so much material here that a writer could go crazy with an oozing overflow of juicy material. Some human friends have been coming here for two or three pup generations. There are canines of all shapes, sizes, ages and decibels of cuteness. I started going about two and a half years ago when my dog, Sulley, was a mere four months. I was so desperate for some canine correction assistance, we went as soon as he was old enough and fully vaccinated. I was looking for the right dogs to teach him how to play the "game." There is just something about another dog's jaw playfully wrapped around your precious puppy's neck, that offers the owner a sigh of relief. I'm not talking aggressive dogs here. I'm talking playful tumbling and respectful corrections. I've gotten off topic a little. Sulley and I meet the "morning crew" at 13th & Herndon each weekday at around 7:15am. With cups of coffee and leashes in hand, we watch as the dogs fetch and chase, and occasionally stop for some kisses and snuggles. The community is very strong here, but always welcoming to the newcomers. Be respectful of the rules and you'll find a whole new set of friends with dogs. If you or your pup are new to the area definitely stop by. The busiest time of day is in the evenings after work. If your dog is not that well socialized try going earlier in the day. read more

This dog park is SO unclean. It's made of sand, which just absorbs all of the dog pee. On top of that, nobody picks up after their dogs. My dog can almost never find his tennis ball because it gets lost in the smell of dog pee as soon as it hits the ground. Most importantly.. This dog park made my dog sick! We took him there, now has a GI tract infection. This was caused by him putting a tennis ball in his mouth that was covered in the disgusting sand. I'm not sure who thought sand would be better than grass. The whole dog park just smells terrible. read more

I might be bias since we come here all the time, but this is a great community dog park. My small dog loves it here so much and it's so convenient. Pros: -good community of dog owners and sweet dogs -free poop bags sponsored by local dog walking businesses and trash -city comes to clean it two or three times a week during lunch hours and the workers that take care of the park love dogs and are really sweet. I think they leave a ton of tennis balls once a week too. -the little grassy section outside of the park is great for walking and running dogs -plenty of water fountains for the puppies -umbrellas for shade in the summer Cons: -The sand is pretty gross. It's chalky and sticks to the dogs, especially when they are wet. I bought rubber boots to wear specifically to to the park. -After any rain there is always a big puddle/pond in the sand. Some dogs splash around in it and others drink from it (pee and poop water) As with any dog park, there have been some skirmishes between over-excited dogs. For the most part, the owners keep a good eye on their own dogs and conflicts are resolved quickly. It can be a little scary for a small dog mom like myself, but we've felt safe so far. I would recommend staying pretty watchful, as you should at any dog park. read more

Place is amazing! They have plenty of setting area, a water play area with water fall. They have baggies and foe grass. It is mostly made of gravel pebbles similar to kitty litter which in my opinion is the best for picking up poop! read more

James Hunter Park - Park from far side - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Large urban space for pups to run around. I don't really mind the gravel/sand thing too much. We have a corgi and most of that crap falls off, but COINCIDENTALLY it's usually bath time right around when we bring little Ellie to this park. It does get pretty dusty, but whatever. Dogs be dogs, they're getting dirty all the time anyway. What makes it tough to come here are the other owners. Some of you are atrocious. I have seen: - Owners generally not paying attention and watching their dogs - Owners not cleaning up after their dogs - Owners with dogs that are clearly out of control and should not be at a goddamn dog park - Overtly aggressive dogs that are not corrected by their owners, who are, again, playing on their phones and not paying attention - Unaltered male dogs attempting to...assert their dominance (protip: if you're bringing your unaltered dog to a dog park, you are a crappy dog owner and a crappy person) It's a little out of the way but Towers Park is hands down a better place to bring your pooch. read more

A most excellent, convenient, relatively clean neighborhood dog park that's new and offers drinking water and water bowls for dogs. Parking is relatively easy too in the area. There are benches too for dog owners to sit down when tired out. The sandy "beach" area for dogs to run wild is pretty big and open (by urban standard). read more

Went to this park on a Friday after they were closed from 10am-12pm for "maintenance" - but when I arrived the park was dirty, there was poop everywhere, and I left almost immediately. Not sure why they would use sand in this type of park instead of grass, which would be much cooler considering the lack of any shade. I wouldn't want my pup romping in the water feature given how dirty the rest of the park is. Arlington Parks need to get it together with this one - the location is great considering all the homes and apartments right there, but it is not kept up well at all. read more

Whoever designed this dog park is looking down from their high rise apartment, holding their 20lb Persian cat, petting him softly saying "Yes, my kitty... yes... I told you I'd strike revenge." WHO designs a dog park with no shade, no small dog section, a chlorinated water feature, and litter texture gravel? Lucifer, that's who. In a community surrounded by apartments, one would imagine that the dog population may contain small (under 25lb) dogs. For a 1.2 million budget, I don't understand why they didn't add a partition (there's already another entry/exit!) for small dogs to enjoy the fun. Instead, I wring my hands as a german shepherd/lab mix dog pummels my 13lb terrier mix puppy, trying not to freak the fuck out. There is absolutely no shade, and developers have been quoted on ARLnow.com as hoping that "in time" the young trees they are growing will provide the needed shade. Read: wait 5 years, hope your dog is still alive. The chlorinated water feature is ridiculous. Dogs are not supposed to drink from it, get totally soaked, and then head straight for the mealy, litter-textured gravel. THAT GRAVEL. ohhhh that gravel haunts me. The dust from dogs running around leaves a film on my dog like the day I brought him home from the rescue. Once, a small gravel piece got stuck in his eye, and I had to saline wash it out. I have to hose him down before we go in the house, which is drying out his skin, and also makes him die inside a little. If a dog poops and it's owner doesn't realize (or perhaps doesn't want to mess up his Clarendon Boat Shoes by walking in the gravel), the poop is eventually covered by the litter gravel and unsuspecting conscientious owners like me step on it when cleaning their own dogs' poop. If my puppy didn't puke every time we went in the car, I'd drive him to Shirlington everyday. But, I live walking distance to Dog Shit Park, so that's where we'll go for now. read more

First of all I don't have a dog. Second, I have a love-hate relationship with this dog park. I live right next to it. So you know that old saying "Wake up and smell the coffee!" . " For me it's more like "Wake up and hear the puppies play." Then I can make my coffee. At around 6 AM the urbanites start to take their dogs over to the park. At least that's what it sounds like, but I'm also super groggy and trying to squeeze in some extra snooze time I was around to see the old dog park which was pretty much just a field of grass maybe a couple weeds and lots of dog poop. After a long bout of construction and enough banging that made me feel like I was living in Brooklyn again. The dog park was finally open! To me the park looked pretty cool. I think my old pup would have enjoyed playing in it and making some new friends . The park looks modern and chic. What really cracks me up is go down the street and take a gander at the kids park and the tennis court, they are kind of shabby and run down looking compared to the dog park. LMAO. As for the practicality, I'm not really sure how that goes. The fountain looks cool and is a nice thoughtful concept . I'm not sure how sanitary it is. Of course they also lick each other's butt on occasion, so a dirty water might not hurt. I'm not sure if the water is slightly chlorinated or not. From my perspective the park has its ups and downs like everything else. Of course I hear dogs barking but what's worse is I can hear the owners over top of the dogs!!! WTF. For one thing some of the dog owners really need to step up their game and properly train their pups. I hear a lot of rough doggie play which is normal but a lot of "No's" and over-the-top shouting from the owners. Mostly than usual rookie dog owner mistakes . A good dog trainer could definitely make some bank picking up new clients here. In conclusion : I can see how puppies could be a little frightened and older dogs get irritated at peak hours. If you have a healthy ,friendly, energetic,happy-go-lucky medium-size dog this is probably the park for you. As always use your best judgment. Now, I'm going to give this park 4 stars. Just because I don't want the county getting an an idea they want to build a playground next to the bar strip. Or worse another high-rise or bar! read more

Mixed feelings about this park. Two pups in the car with us after a three hour drive from Virginia Beach. I know they're scratching to make some new friends. It's a bit cold outside and jumping into a coffee shop while the four legged kids are in the car just wasn't a good idea. Driving around, we spot a dog park. Yes, it's cold outside but we wanted to tire the dogs out and see a few pups. As with the park. I would prefer real or fake grass... I wasn't fond of the soft gravel all throughout. Our shoes got real dirty and the dogs seemed to hang around the entrance that was on the concrete instead of running all over the place. They had a few water stations and some dirty ass toys laying around. I loved the surrounding neighborhood. This park was in a great area. It wasn't the best park I've been to but it served its purpose for a 30 minute visit to wear out the doggies. read more

The Good - location - size (decent for a park in the heart of Arlington) The Bad - the "gravel" makes our dog really dirty, especially if he jumps in the fountain. we have to rinse him off when we get home most times - chlorinated water fountain - wtf were they thinking?! - no shade! killer in the summer read more

I read about the renovation of Clarendon Dog Park and on a beautiful sunday I took Charlie the Tzu on a date to Clarendon Dog Park. Street parking if you can find it. Big grass area and benches if you so please Big gated park area for the pups to run around, play and make friends in Dog owners are pretty nice, observe their dogs and quick to step in if there is a "situation", pick up after their dogs (for the most part) 2 Water fountains Bags for pup poop Swimming pool which is only meant for swimming and playing..yea Charlie is not allowed in there because I'm afraid he might get thirsty and the pool has chlorine water no bueno so caution! Lots of seating for humans although I had my eye on Charlie like a hawk and followed him around like a puppy dog myself while he probably thought, "not now mom, I'm making friends! I wanna play! water! ball! squirrel!" I will definitely take Charlie back! read more

This dog park is designed very poorly. There's no shade inside the dog park, so the summer is really brutal. The gravel pit makes fetch a game of "do I want my dog eating rocks?" The fountain is an absolute nightmare if you're trying to keep your dog remotely clean. And why surround the fountain with a 3-4 inch high concrete wall? This makes me cringe every time a dog runs into it awkwardly while jumping in and out of the fountain. I'd suggest driving out to Shirlington. It's a much better dog park. read more

This is a great neighborhood dog park for me! I'm a bit on the larger size but there's ample room for me to run and play with other dogs. Sometimes it gets a bit messy with the gravel and mud following the rain. The waterfall is a great way for me to cool down but it does get a bit dirty by the afternoons so my Dad tries to take me earlier than later. The park offers some drinking stations and I do like to splash in them...much to my Dad's dismay. Not much for shade or other people features but I'm a dog so don't really mind at all. I look forward to seeing you there! read more

James Hunter Park - The waterfall was great for huskies! - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This is a good dog park. Not Shirlington-big, but big compared to most semi-urban dog parks. Mulch over most of the surface, grass around the edges. Always plenty of friendly dogs to play with, no matter the time of day. A picnic bench at each end for humans to sit on, both under trees. People seem to keep a good eye on their dogs, and break up the occasional dog argument immediately. There are a few dogs who like to hump other dogs, and the owners seem resigned to it. But fights are broken up. No faucet, so bring water to pour in the park's bowls for the dogs. Sometimes there are baggies hanging on the fence, but sometimes not. read more

My dogs loved visiting this dog park. We visited during summer time. I wish there was more shades for the dogs! Dogs were very hot!

It hasn't gotten any better since the first review. It's basically a bunch of gravel that dogs aren't even fond of walking on. There is absolutely no shade whatsoever...so when it's hot, it's hot. Overall, my initial impressions stand. read more

I love that it's fenced and close to home but I'd rather drive farther out than bring our dog here again. We don't mind the sand but this whole dog park is poorly designed. It would've been better if the sand area was surrounded by grass/fake turf. Only the entrance and one side of it is non sand and a very small area too. A walking path is definitely missing. I think because of that most of the owners don't even bother watching their dogs. Regardless of that owners should still be responsible and watch their dogs in case they harass other dogs or poop. There's a lot of poop lying around for sure. Towers Park off Columbia Park and the Shirlington dog parks are way better options! They're both cleaner and the owners pay attention to their dogs. read more

Its decent sized, and well located. It seems big enough to have a small dog enclosure, but they don't have one. There is usually a good number of dogs because of its location, so your dog won't be bored. There is no water for the dogs, and if you have a small dog he/she can definitely sneak out if he/she tries. Because of the popularity of the park, you have a mix of owners who are attentive to their dog, owners who are their to socialize and completely ignore their dog, and owners who are their to relax in the shade and think their dog understands English when they yell complete sentences are their dogs. Luckily at least 3/4's of the people are in the first group, but be prepared to remove someone else's dog from humping yours or to step alone in if play gets too rough. I drove by recently and saw it under construction. So when that's finished it may look nicer, have water fountains, and even have that small dog enclosure I mentioned earlier. read more

This is a good dog-park to go if you're looking for lots of playmates for your dogs. It's a decent sized park and it's frequently used. The only knocks against the park (compared to others in the area we go to): * no running water/water fountains * not all of the gates are "air-lock" style * the fences short - about hip-high Most dog-owners bring plenty of water and everyone seems cool with a "all water is community dog-water" mindset. Fortunately, almost everyone that comes in seems to have sense enough to use the air-lock gates. But, you have a few oblivious ones who insist on using the single-door gate. Usually, these are "busy mothers" with their pack of kids and/or dogs who can't be bothered to walk the extra few feet to one of the other doors. These people tend to leave the gate hanging open, so be on the watch for them so that your (or others') dog(s) don't get loose through it. Even though my dog could easily vault the fences, she's not done so, yet. On the plus side, people with small dogs can do an over-the-fence insertion of their pup. In general, the dog-owners at this park are fairly attentive and friendly. So, you'll probably have lots of conversation while the pups play. I don't find nearly as much random dog poop laying around as at some other NoVA parks. People also don't get as upset, here, when there are doggy-politics going on. They just quickly correct or intercede and everyone goes about having fun when the situation is over. I'd give the place five stars but for the three previously-listed knocks. read more

Lots of bags left in park sitting on walls or near benches, at least 8 mounds of poop not addressed, smells like urine in the early morning Very disappointed that a nice area like Clarendon doesn't have citizens to clean up after their own Really amazed about the smell, yesterday and this morning, makes me think it's unhealthy read more

I really enjoy this park! The water can be a little nasty sometimes because I'm not sure they clean it very often and the gravel can be tracked back to your car or home, but all in all it's a great park to bring your dog, especially in the summer time. My only recommendation would be to flush and clean the pool sometimes. Cheers! read more

Today was my first time at the dog park and I brought my year old golden retriever puppy, Barley. He was attacked by 3 dogs and the owners simply sat by and watched. He is thankfully fine, but one dog came over to me after (as I was sitting on the ledge) and peed all over me... I'm not joking. Needless to say, I was "pissed"... literally. The majority of the owners appeared to be inattentive of their aggressive dogs. read more

I read an article some 6 months ago describing a $1.2 million dog park in the Clarendon area for local pets. Resident pet-owners complained that gravel would get stuck in their pup's paws and that the water was "dangerous." I finally found the gravel pit about a month ago to see what all the fuss was about. I was greeted by local "foliage" (chickweed, dandelions, white clover), sustainable fencing and park furniture, solar panels, and a doggy water fountain. Numerous signs describing the sustainable features of the park, rules for pets, and advisories to pet owners NOT to allow their furry friends to drink or wade in the water were displayed throughout the park. In sum, this place is FINE. I don't know why a dog park needs ratings in the first place but anything less than 3 is absurd. read more

I would love to know why it took so long and where all the money went in re-doing this dog park. I went this morning and was less than impressed. It is just a big open area, with no shade and black dusty gravel that covers 90% on the ground, and will cover 90% of your dog by the time you leave. Then, there is a "water fountain", that is standing, murky water, which the dogs will jump into and then go run through the dusty gravel, and in seconds you have one dirty dog. If you live in Clarendon or Courthouse and are looking for a nice dog park to take your dog, the drive out to the Shirlington Dog Park is well worth the drive. read more

I went there all the time with my 13 lb mini schnauzer/yorkie mix in September - but not after the $600 vet bill. One of the larger dogs at the park ripped off my poor dog's dew claw. We won't be going back - They spent $1.7 million? the least they could have done is add a small dog area - instead of that chlorinated fountain. read more

I used to take my rescue pup to this dog park all the time, but because of aggressive dogs and inattentive owners, we now stay away! We live in the area and were very excited to have a safe place for dogs to play. Yes, the park can get really hot in the summer and the gravel can get really messy, but the main issue with this park is the other dog owners. My dog, who is super sweet and social was attacked on two different occasions by the same dog and the owner refused to take any responsibility! I don't know the owner's name (she is a blonde middle aged female), but she has an extremely aggressive gray British Staffordshire Terrier named Tetly. This dog is so aggressive that I had to literally throw him off my dog 3 times before his owner even noticed what was going on. She refused to even remove her dog. This seems to be quite common, the aggressive dogs are allowed to play/fight at will and are not removed. After this and a few lesser but equally concerning issues, we don't go. I've filed a report with animal control and the park management, but I feel so strongly about this that I think everyone should know what they are bringing their dog into. We live in Clarendon and have spoken to many other dog owning neighbors and the consensus is that it's unsafe and we generally stay away. I would STRONGLY caution anyone bringing a medium or small dog to this park, to stay away. Or at the very least keep a close eye on the other dogs in the park, because the other owners aren't likely to! It's sad because it is a cool park for dogs and it's so close! read more

Why is there no area for the smaller dogs? Everytime I try to go here there are tons of big dogs and no area for me to bring my smaller dogs with out being bombarded or nearly attacked. read more

I stopped by here today for a bit of playing and maybe a poop. I had been checking in every few weeks to see when the renovations were done. I have to say, I don't really understand what the humans were thinking here. The first thing I noticed is that there's no grass or dirt. The whole thing is covered in kitty litter. It was a cool day so it was pretty warm and a laid down in it. Not too bad today, but since it is dark grey I am thinking there's no way I am coming back in the summer. It's going to be a little dog frying pan. Maybe the builders know something I don't know. Well, I was pretty warm by then so I went over to the big fountain. The water was murky with grey dust, so I didn't want to get in. So I take a sip just to see what it tastes like. My owner gets all worked up because apparently the humans put chlorine in the water. Hey, I am a dog. It's my natural instinct to drink water, so again I am not sure what they were thinking. Well, we didn't stick around long. But when we went home I laid down on the floor and left a giant pile of grey dust! I thought it was cool. like a grey snow angel but my owner didn't seem to happy about it. Well, probably not going back. they should put in some grass or dirt! What's wrong with dirt? I am a dog! read more

What a disappointment after a year delay and $1.6mm spent. When you first walk up to the new dog park you think to yourself wow this looks pretty nice. Visually this park is very nice. That is where the good stops. As you let your dog off the leash and bound into the park you start to realize that this place was designed by someone who obviously doesn't own a dog. After being there a while you question whether the designer even likes dogs or if they have some sort of vendetta against dog owners and is secretly laughing in a cave somewhere. The bad... -The park has been open about a month and already smells horrible. The turf that was installed must either not drain or they don't clean it. -The gravel is almost perfectly designed to get all over your dog. It is some sort of super gravel that is like a magnet for your dog. -Lastly, the dreaded water feature. Why oh why did they put an open water feature in a dog park. There is no fence around it so your dog will likely make a beeline for it. After promptly soaking themselves it will be straight for the gravel which turns into a nice concoction. I am all for my dog swimming but make it an option. Your trip to the dog park will turn from relaxing to having to be a goalie by the water feature if you don't want your dog to go in. It is also chlorinated so you'll find yourself constantly making sure your dog doesn't drink the water as well. Overall, after a year delay and an absurd price tag (it is probably time for another bond issue right Arlington county?) this park is a miss. What a disappointment. read more

So listen, I know this dog park has a lot of controversy around it due to that fact it cost about a million dollars in tax payer money. However it's right by my house and it has a super healthy group of regulars that go there. Most of the dogs that go on a regular basis are really sweet and have super nice owners. There's also a stocked amount of poopy bags on hand at all times which makes cleanliness easier for all of us there. I will say that I wish they would replaced the ground up granite (meant to reduce noise) with just about anything else. Whenever it rains your fur baby will get gross and sandy. Overall though my kid loves it! read more

I was excited to take my dog to this park, but I was disappointed when we got there. There seem to be mostly big dogs and there is no separate place for small dogs. For some reason they have kitty litter for a surface in one area. I can only imagine what happens there. The owners seem a little less attentive here than other places too. My dog got in a few scrapes with larger dogs and I didn't see their owners do anything. We left after about 10 minutes. My wife went once before me and had the same experience. I figured it might be different at a different time, but it was apparently the same. It's a shame because they spent a lot of money on it and it looks nice, but it's not much use to me and from reading other reviews, not much use for quite a few other people either. read more

Contrary to many of the other reviews I actually prefer the sand at this park. Sand is so much easier to brush off than mud. Every time i've been here the other owners and dogs are really friendly. I'm a fan! read more