I have been to this dog park many times, I really wish they would provide more green area on the large dog side. Such a large area, but unfortunately mostly covered with sand, which is very messy. I would like to advocate for a few more water stations around the area and more trees for shade! There is a small dog park area for smaller puppers as well. So many friendly pet owners at this park, I have a pretty vocal dog who loves barking all around and at all the dogs but she doesn't mean any harm and a lot of the owners just get it and are super welcoming! There is a pool/water area for dogs to jump in and swim, so freaking cute for them. I'll be going back to take my dogs, hoping for more change in this area! read more

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Its a decent park but needs work.. while I was there i noticed the dogs swimming in the pond and it looked filthy and the dogs were drinking the water and that concerned me for the dogs getting really sick. I know some of the neighbors were talking about how great it would be to build a fence between the dog park and the pond so that dog owners could choose to let their dog be in the pond or not. I agree this should happen. The little dog park park has the demarcating fence Why not have one for the big dogs too? we don't want the little dogs sick but it's ok for the big dogs to get sick? read more

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This is a great park, but it's not ideal for every day use they need to close off the water section of the large dog park. Nobody wants to take their dog to the park every day and have to shower their dog because they want to get in the dirty pond. I don't understand why they don't section that part off for the dog parents that want their dog to play in water it's just not ideal. The small dog section doesn't have a water part so I understand if you have a small dog why this would be a good park for you read more

I enjoy taking my dog to this park on occasion because it is much larger than the other parks that are close to our home. There are parking spots just up the hill along Allen Pkwy and you can walk straight to the entrance in less than 5 minutes. Once you're in the park, there is a ton of space for your dog to run around and expend their energy. The large dog side has a water area that can become very muddy, so don't wear nice clothing or shoes when you visit. You may also want to bring towels. The water usually looks pretty dirty, but it comes in handy on those hot Houston days. There are a few benches and concrete seating areas, but that is another downside to this park. I usually stand or walk around as my dog explores. Depending on the day and time, the park can be pretty busy, but given its size it's never felt too crowded. And all of our interactions with other dogs have been safe and friendly here. Another plus is you can walk along the buffalo bayou park trails. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Small dog side - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Our favorite dog park in the area! It's nestled within Buffalo Bayou, separated between small and big dog areas, completely off-leash. Owner discretion on whether the pup is big or small - so be aware of how your dog responds to others. Would definitely recommend this park for dogs who are experienced with meeting others. If your dog can be aggressive or you're not sure how they'll react, it's best to experiment in a lower key environment first. As for the park, it's completely fenced in with an area to unleash in both big and small playpens. Water fountains with dog level bowls are available. Lights come on as the sun goes down. Some shadier spots, but mostly wide open space for dogs to play. The big dog park has a pond in it. The pond is your average pond, so I would recommend observing play and removing if your dog likes to drink that water - yuck! Park is situated in a lower area, and is likely impacted by flooding. It gets pretty muddy after rain, too, but there are hoses in case you need a quick rinse on your way out. Ruff life! read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - View of the pond in the big dog area - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This was my first time coming to this park. There's a large gated area you walk into to get into the gated park. If you have a medium to large dog, this place is great, especially for pups that lovee getting wet. There's a large shallow watering hole with a bridge. The day I went the dogs were running around chasing after balls thrown into the water. It was so much fun to watch all the dogs. There's a large field in the back where dogs like mine who don't like water can run around. There are benches you can sit down on to dog watch, and there's a small place where you can rinse your pups off. Definitely don't wear white pants or shoes as some of the dogs get excited and jump up on you. Definitely recommend this place!! read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Really great dog park that my dogs both love frequenting. Of note, the big dog side can get very dirty, especially after rain as in addition to having a muddy pool, there's tons of dirt that your dog can run around in. My friends' dogs have both gotten parasite infections from the muddy water here and had to take medication. Some of the dogs here are not that friendly, so just keep your eyes on your dog. There's tons of room for your dog to run around and play fetch. Unfortunately mine loves sitting in the mud pools near the gate. There is one hose here to clean off your dog. There's also a small dog side but there isn't any water for the little dogs to swim around in! read more

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The pond and standing water at this dog park is filthy and is a source of infection to our dogs. My dog got very sick from this pond and required several rounds of antibiotics. It's also a drowning risk for children. Buffalo Bayou Partnership is aware of the design flaws but refuses to address them. And they say there is proper signage to keep kids out. Wrong. It's written in small print in ONE SIGN OUTSIDE the park. It's number 11 on the small list. Do they honestly think that's sufficient? read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - I guess keeping kids safe is less important than even dogs being in heat. Bet a man wrote these rules in this order - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great dog park! However, your dog is like mine, and wants to play in the mud rather than in the pool, they may need a pretty thorough bath at the bathing station. Can get a little hectic at peek hours, so make sure your dog can handle a lot of excitement if you go on the weekends/when busy. read more

This is my favorite dog park. I live a couple bloacls from the tc jester dog park which is a horrible park and I will not take my dog into that park. My dog gets to swim and play. It's well kept. Be sure to wear shoes you don't mind getting wet. I recommend bringing your dog shampoo because swimming is a huge attraction. I wish people followed the rules of no children and no un neutered dogs because dogs humping out of control is annoying. My dog loves this park otherwise and they have a large dog side and a small dog area. We go at 7 am or 7:30 pm since it's so hot. The water gets pretty warm during the afternoon. Due to covid; closed until may 31. I took my dog to red bud isle and had an incredible time. 13 acres off leash peninsula in the middle of the Colorado river in Austin Texas. Guess it our go to until Johnny Steele reopens read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Walking track and fetch playing area - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is one of the best dog parks I've ever been to. It has a fenced Park area for small dogs, it has a huge water feature for dogs to swim in. There are benches in shady areas. There's a water drinking and cleaning station. It is incredibly hot in Houston so having a place for your dogs to run around and cool off is important. This park is super clean and well-maintained. The dogs seemed generally well behaved. The people seem very nice as well. Parking is on the street. You may need to drive a little bit to find a good spot. There's a long set of stairs to get down to the water. Your dog will definitely have a great time and will wear himself out if you take it to this great dog park. read more

Sexie Texie would give any dog park five stars. Johnny Steele is my fur baby's heaven - plenty of friends to chase, water to swim, grass to sniff (and do other stuff). For me, it's lacking a few things other outstanding bark parks offer, like a proper dog-wash station. My Tex is a labrador, and that boy will hop in the water whether I like it or not; whether it's hot or cold; whether he is recently groomed or not. Meaning I have to deal with the aftermath. I do wish the park planners created a fenced in area without a pond so we could visit this park more often. Most of the dog owners are courteous and watch over their pets. read more

Dog park is overrated... Good concept for dogs but not for their owner. The benches and grounds are extremely muddy because lake area is close to the benches. No shade for dog owners. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Dogo Argentino .... - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Johnny Steele Dog Park was the absolute best dog park I had ever been to in Houston! That's until Harvey tragically damaged the beloved property. It was 5/5 stars until the remodel because Harvey completely wiped the left side clean. It was originally made for the bigger dogs and the right side was made for the smaller dogs. The new remodel was subpar. The best they could do but there was no separation. The right side is taken over by the bigger dogs and the pond smells like chlorine. I was afraid my baby's tummy was going to hurt from all the water he was drinking. I have both a large sized dog and a small doggie. One is 65 lbs and one is 8 lbs. It's very sad that now it's underwater again. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - So happy it's opened! - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of my favorite dogs parks in downtown Houston. It's proximity is one of the things that makes it so appealing to me. My dog also loves the water feature. She likes to lay down and cool off in it. Some cons I have about this awesome dog park: parking is absolutely horrific, but it's downtown what do you expect. There is not a ton of shade for you or your dog so come on a not super hot day. The water feature is a little bit gross, so I wouldn't let your dog drink it. Overall a great park! read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Had a pretty good time at this dog park in the Montrose area. Easy to find and parking was OK. Not too many small dogs on a gloomy morning, seems to be geared more towards large dogs with the big pond. We noticed a few smaller dogs playing in the large dog area. Someone brought her large dog into the small dog area. Dog was well-behaved but pretty big to be playing with my 16-pound Shih Tzu. Would have appreciated the owner asking if I wanted her dog to play with mine, but there doesn't seem to be much etiquette anywhere these days. I've taken the pup to a number of dog parks in the Houston area, so far my favorite has been Levy Park but I would take him to Johnny Steele again. read more

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I love this dog park. I've been to several dog parks in Houston and it's definitely the best one. Big dog and small dog sections with plenty of space to run in both areas. Decent shade on sunny days and good amount of places to sit down. Dog bags are always replenished and waste removed promptly. The one downside is parking... or lack there of. The only close by parking is parallel parking on the Allen Pkwy feeder right in front. There are about 10-15 spaces, but you really need to come during slow hours to score one. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

So I don't own a dog but enjoy dog related events and went there at the grand opening. One problem that was apparent was that unless there is a full time person to keep an eye on the door to make sure the external door is closed before the internal door is opened, it's possible for a dog to get out or for a long line to develop. Maybe it won't be as crowded but during the grand opening, it was just a clusterF**k There is a video on youtube that "someone" has posted showing how long the line was. Also, I noticed that even on the grand opening with so many eyes on them, some people weren't cleaning up after their dog so I'd imagine when nobody is looking during the week, there is going to be a landmine of poop around the park. Perhaps they need more bag stations or trash cans. Again, I don't own a dog so I'm not sure how the general public feels about water and their dog, but it seems like the water pools take up a lot more space of the park so a dog can't just run around without being tempted to jump in the water. Hope you have a towel! And parking? Well, good luck with that. For the grand opening they had the area around Montrose but it was muddy and cars were getting stuck so they moved the parking to the office parking between Waugh and Montrose. They forgot to let the security there know and as I was getting back to my car, a security guard was admonishing me for parking there telling me nobody was authorized to park there and it was all at their own risk. Not sure if it meant they would tow, but someone from the dog park had posted signs that it was ok to park there and hadn't checked in with the business. Pretty much amateur hour. read more

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This is one of my favorite dog parks! I'm not sure what it is about it, but it was the first dog park that my dog had a great time at!! At the past few dog parks we'd been to, my dog was super shy and acted like an alien. She stayed super close to me and would just sit or lie down. But the second we stepped foot in Johnny Steele, she took off!!! She traipsed through the shrubby/shady tree area and got herself all muddy, and then she washed herself off in the pool area (the water is brown and nasty looking, but my dog + foster dog both drank gallons of it and ended up fine, without the runs :D). There is a wash station near the pool area, so that is very convenient. But even though I do like Johnny Steele for its size, there are 2 downsides to it for me:1) Parking is such a hit or miss (I drove around 2 times and couldn't find a parking lot directly connected to the park? Just like 6 curbside parking spaces); 2) Although it's a hugeee park, I don't love the way it's set up. There's a huge dirt/gravel area (think baseball field) but there are no trees in that area so dogs don't really want to play over there? And then there's some swampy looking grass surrounding some of the gravel area, so you can't really walk over there :O But the dogs love to get muddy and dirty there hahhahaa! There's also a small dog area, but I can't speak to it! read more

Nice dog park. It's quite spacious & has a doggy pond to swim in as well as a doggy fountain to refill bowls and or bathe your dog.

The lake of water had perfect shallow spots for my pup as well as not too deep spots so he could enjoy a real swim and learn at the same time! We absolutely loved our time here and will be regulars! Rocco was super popular and loved meeting all his other dog companions. This was a great way for dogs to socialize and have a blast all while being safe! Love love love read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - my pup Rocco had an absolute blast. Best dog park ever! - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

My 4 pound doggo loves hanging out in the small dog park. If you bring your 40+ pound dog in there, I have no problem asking you to leave. She has gotten run into by big dogs and she gets so scared. Not too mention she could get hurt! Let the small dogs have their park! They love running leash free!! Also, stop bringing your aggressive dogs here! Please!!! If your dog isn't fixed, STAY HOME! Lmfao think about these things before you bring your dog here!!!!! Don't ruin it for the good puppies read more

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Me and my pup are frequent visitors to this part, as we are within walking distance to it. I have always loved taking my dog there as it was large, always busy with other dogs, and had the water my dog loves to play with. However at our most recent visit will be our last until the water quality is improved. There are 15-20 dead fish in the small dog park just floating in the water. I didn't notice them until my dog had drank the pond water and was nudging a dead fish with her nose. I would hate for my dog, or any others to get sick from dead animals in water they are playing in/drinking. Mud and dirt are fine, but please get the dead fish out of the water! read more

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I'm new to Houston and needed a place to take my dogs during the week to wear them out. Although this park is beautiful and well kept by the city, it seems like most owners just plop down under the shade someplace and play on their phone or read. While this isn't always an issue, it can be when they aren't watching their dogs and ignore when they poop. I have seen people sitting on one side of the lake while their dog poops on the other and make zero effort to clean up after their pet. This isn't always the case, and I'd like to think that most of them aren't shitty people outside of the dog park, BUT COME ON! Clean up after your dog and keep unfixed dogs and puppies under four months at home. Parking can be an issue but there are usually people coming and going so be patient! Also, bring a towel! It's usually muddy or dusty. Above all, PLEASE pay attention to your pup while you're here, so everyone can enjoy the park. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Not really a big swimmer, but enjoying a dip anyways - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Beautiful park! Very well maintained and spacious. Great space for my dog to roam and lots of other dogs for him to play with. Parking is available and typically easy to find. read more

This is a decent dog park that I usually go to when it is not flooded. There is a section for small dogs and a much bigger section for large dogs. There is only a pool in large dogs section and the water is always dirty. Along the fence line there are trees and it is constantly muddy. There is a large dry area for the dogs to run around on the side of the park which is nice. The dogs here mostly friendly and well trained. However some pet owners are not mindful of others and will just leave both gates open when they are leaving the park. I have seen numerous dogs run away because people exiting didn't close any of the TWO gates. Take your pup here when it's not flooded and keep a close eyes on the gate! read more

The small dog park area is far inferior compared to the big dog park area so minus one star for that. While the big dogs get an awesome pool with a bridge and a large adjacent area to run in, the small dogs get a small grassy area. It's not like the Danny Jackson dog park where both small and large dog parks are equivalent. However, both times that we have gone there have been plenty of other small dogs to run around and play with. All of the dogs were pretty well behaved and their owners kept a close eye on them. Also, the dog park closes as 8 pm even though the sign right outside the dog park says 11 pm. A cranky security guard rolled up on his golf cart to yell at everyone around 8:15 pm. Parking is ruff (heh) but it's nice to be able to walk through the beautiful park before/after hanging out in the dog park. read more

Eh... no grass from the flooding and the water is super sketchy. Took my pup here before I saw the bats fly out from under Waugh Bridge. I'll stick to my Cypress and Katy dog parks. Friendly people and cute dogs though! read more

Is it odd that I wanted to check this place out even though I do not own a dog? I am all about parks, and even though I do not own a dog I do enjoy dog watching. And all about new green spaces. I was showing a friend visiting the HPD Memorial just down the street so I figured we might as well check out the dog park too. As any visitor of anything along allen parkway, parking has always been an issue. However, at least it seems like the corporate buildings across the street is allowing people to use their guest spots at least on the weekend. Beyond that your best bet is taking one of the few spots along Allen Parkway. We didn't have a dog to carry along so we found a spot pretty easily and made our way down to the park. Once you get to the front they have two parks. One that is made exclusively for small dogs and a bigger park for big and small dogs. If you aren't used to being around wet dogs, it is going to smell bad! We just wanted to check out the bigger park. There is a huge pool/fountain area in the middle. The big dogs love it! Overall, it's a great space. I'm not really sure how sanitary that pool area is though. The dogs do go a bit crazy so be careful not to get clobbered or knocked over. It was a great space to dog watch if you don't own a dog and if you do wouldn't be bad to take them here. From the looks of it the dogs love it here. read more

I came during the grand opening of the park, but luckily towards the end of the 1-4pm time frame. It was pretty busy when I got there so I can't even imagine how many people and dogs were there during peak hours. Anyways, the dog park is pretty big and separated into big dog / little dog sections. The big dog section tends to be a bit muddier than the little dog section. There's a pool that runs through both sections and sufficient grass for fetch. Every aspect of the park is very well designed. This is probably the fanciest dog park I've been to. Nearby parking is difficult to find, but there are visitor lots a short walk away near the AIG building and to the left of Whole Foods on Waugh. SIDE NOTE: When you enter the address into Google Maps, it takes you to the AIG building. The dog park is actually located on Allen Parkway (westbound) between Waugh and Montrose (closer to Montrose). read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Grand opening day! - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

My 2 pups love this dog park!! I try to take my dogs here once or twice a week and they are definitely worn out after romping around this park. I love that this park is smack in the middle of Buffalo Bayou Park and close by to where I live. What I like about this park: + As soon as you walk into the dog park there are free doggie poop bags for use. + The park has a long, open grassy area perfect for playing fetch. + There is a water/pond area for the dogs to play and swim in. + There is a huge tree to one side of the park that provides great shade and is located in the middle of a sandy area- my dogs love digging up sand! + Plenty of seating- there is a shaded area of benches which is great when it's hot out and you want to take cover. + There are always plenty of dogs around for my pups to play with. + I have never seen any aggressive dogs here. I feel like other owners are attentive and make sure their dogs are behaving. + No young children allowed. Dislikes: - Parking is AWFUL!!!! Unless you come at a random time on the weekdays, parking is scarce, especially on the weekends. This is my biggest irk about this place- they need an adjacent private lot!! On weekends there is a private lot across the street that has available parking, but who really wants to cross Allen Parkway with their dogs?! Sounds dangerous to me. - Even when it hasn't rained, there is still mud to be found randomly around the park. Be sure not to wear nice shoes here because they will get dirty. - No real wash stations. I finally found a water shower station in the large dog area (next to the water fountain) that literally trickled out water...definitely useless for a large dog to use. - There is only ONE water fountain in the large dog park section. And it's not even in the middle of the park- it's near the entrance/exit. Strange placement for a dog water fountain. Be sure to bring a water bowl! - Few trash cans. I've never been to the small dog section but I literally only saw TWO trash cans in the large dog section. This dog park definitely has potential for growth and I hope they at least address some of the aesthetics. Regardless, my pups love this place and can't wait to return for more romping around the park! read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - My pups are always happy when they come here - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is one of the largest dog park I've seen in the heart of the city. Many different dogs and owners come out so your four legged friend will have plenty exploring and mingling to do. Large pond/pool on big dog side. Big fields on either side. Plenty of seating and shaded area for owners. Lots of water areas with fresh water bowls on the bottom a hose and a high water spout. This is a very versatile park that will fit any Pet/Owners needs. The evenings have a nice traffic I think midday is light if you like to be a little more alone. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - EMERGE - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Very beautiful park! My dogs and I loved it. Lots of space for them to run around, huge lake for swimming.... And my dog's favorite - mud (unfortunately). I really liked that there is a guard standing at the entrance so that loose dogs can't get out. Few cons: -Parking is pretty much a nightmare. But that's to be expected anywhere in downtown Houston. There is street parking, it's just pretty hard to find. -Theres not enough trash cans or waste bag stations! Most dog parks I've been to provide bags so that people can clean up after their pets. I usually bring my own, for instances like this, but not everyone does so it can get a bit messy. I think they have stations only at the entrance. -No washing stations! Like I said, my dog's favorite thing is the mud piles, so it's helpful to be able to wash them off before they get in the car. Overall, we really loved this park and will definitely be returning! read more

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We stumbled on this park during a walk through the greater Buffalo Bayou trail. It's our fur child's heaven. // Large pond for pup swimming on a hot day (yes it's muddy, but it's a dog park. Come on people!) // Separate entrances, designated for small vs big dogs. There's also a fenced off area away from the water hole if you're looking for a dryer experience. // Ample benches and seating for the humans // Small water fountains to clean your pup after playtime. The park could definitely build larger dog-wash stations, but I think their current offering gets the job done. read more

Great dog park with a great location! I live right around the corner and take my pup here weekly. It's always filled and usually there is a security guard nearby toward the end of the day. When the water gets nasty the city does a really good job of cleaning it out. Because of this sometimes one is shut down and forces small dogs and big dogs to share which always causes an uproar with some owners. Just beware that not all people that bring there dogs here are respectful to the park or watch their dogs when they are here. If your like me and live in the area then I suggest walking or running but if not the only downside to this place is parking. Across the street you can park in the office lot after hours and on weekends. read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - Opening day of the dog park - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Do I have a dog? No Would I beg a friend with a dog to go? Absolutely! I went this past Sunday afternoon, and I was in total awe. There were several breeds of dogs I've never seen, and I now know which one I truly want. RUSSIAN TERRIER! (Large, black, smart, does not shed!) It is a beautiful, spacious, no-leash dog park with many amenities (wash station, water station, sitting there lazily reading a book station). There is a large body of water that connects to the bayou, and the dogs just seemed to be having such a great time. It is divided into two sections, for the big dawgs, and the smaller ones. The only qualm about this place would be that it could get a little overcrowded. I didn't mind at all, but my friend was complaining that the dogs were basically running into us as we were trying to play fetch. That's just what dogs do! They are excited to be out frolicking with their buddies... Oh the simple life of a dog. I recommend that you wear comfortable clothes you don't mind dirtying, especially your shoes, as it's kind of muddy in some parts. Most of the people wore their work out clothes. It's a great place for the dogs, dog owners, and their fellow dog lover owners friends. read more

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I go to this park a couple times a month. My friends live nearby and one has a dog so we like to peruse the Bayou and bring the pups to the park to run around. There is a HUGE difference between the feel of the small dog park and the large dog park. The small dog park is very calm and serene. The grass is always green and intact. The large dog park is usually a bit torn up,e specially if it rains because the big dogs cover a lot more ground, naturally. But, I enjoy the aesthetics of this park, and my pup loves it. Theres a lot of room to run laps and the dogs we meet here are always incredibly fun and never aggressive. It does get dirty because it is so busy. I think the hype is slowly receding but it is always packed not he weekends so sometimes i think it is overstimulating for lots of dogs. read more

I love this dog park. It's huge and great for wearing out your dog! Tons of space for them to run around, some shady spots and benches, and a big pond for water dogs. Parking can be tricky, but there's usually free spots available in the business lot across the street from the park. It has gotten a little muddy from the amount of dogs playing, so come in shoes you don't mind getting dirty. The small dog park is much less muddy due to the inherent characteristics of little dogs. There is a dog rinsing station next to the watering area, but due to all of bayou park being under construction still, sometimes it isn't working. It's still a great park in amy case and I have already brought my dog here 5 times! read more

Johnny Steele Dog Park - How muddy the dog was after playing at the dog park. He was good and tired! - Dog Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Dogs love it, but there was mud everywhere. The dogs all run through the water and the area near the pool is all dirt so it just turns in to a big mud pit. They do have a hose so you can clean up your dog before you leave. The park surrounding the dog park is really nice. read more

I have a feeling this will quickly become everyone's favorite dog park to visit. Parking can be a challenge on weekends I imagine, because the large parking lot catty corner from the park is all muddy right now until it dries up. Saw several range rovers and high end vehicles getting stuck. People also being inconsiderate and blocking you in. Directly in front of the park along Allen parkway, if you're lucky, there are about 20 spots to parallel park. As far as the park, everything is new, clean and a great environment inside the loop for your pooch. The small dog park is about 1/4 the size of the park for the big dogs, but that's typical. read more