Best place there is in Rockford to bring a dog. It may not be that big of a park, but for dogs it's…read moreenough. Searls Dog Park is located along Central Avenue and is a part of a larger park. Has a few amenities including water and poop bags. There's a few things to do before visiting. A thing to know about using this park is that it costs money to bring a dog. It's about $30 a year for residents. Those coming from outside the city can get a daily permit. A permit is good for all the dog parks in the city. In addition, dogs need to be vaccinated from rabies. Amenities are a good thing, and there's a few for the dogs. There's a few water fountains, and poop bags can be found. Great place for a dog and their companion. It's got plenty more than just a grassy area to poop in. There's also a few trails.

Great spot to take our little guy! He loves it here. A very spacious main area with lots of trails…read morebehind it. They have water available on site, as well as many tables and a shelter to congregate with any two legged friends we may have here. We didn't realize awesome spots like this existed in Rockford before having a dog. And it's surprisingly affordable! You can either get a year-long membership ( That includes all three parks) for I think $30 or $40, or you can come once and try it out for around $3. This kind of place is just another reason to love Rockford and it's park district!

Although there was nothing but a parking lot and a small patch of land. It was pretty nice to set…read moreup our camping chairs and just chill in a safe area with out pets. I would recommend this as a nice area for dog owners.

This is a huge dog park. Plenty of room for big or little dogs. They have a separate area for…read morelittle dogs. There are bathrooms in the parking lot. There are paths around the big dog park and through it as well. People have placed dog bowls throughout. There are dog bag stations. A great place to bring your pooch.

I bring my dogs here at least 1X a month. There's two fenced in areas. I think most people who come…read morehere use the smaller side for the smaller dogs, so I follow the etiquette and take my chihuahuas on the smaller fenced in area. There's a pump for water. Bags are there, you can bring some to donate also and there's waste baskets to dispose. 2 unisex bathrooms. They were clean and stocked as of yesterday (5.23.22) it closes at dusk. Lots of friendly people I've met here so far and it's great for all ages. You can walk the dogs around the park too. This is free so no one mandates the vaccines or pets but it works out fine for me. It's worth visiting and letting the pups play!

Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve and Dog park has been a savior these past 9 months!…read more I've taken my dog to this park many times over this past year and he truly enjoys to socialize with all of the dogs and owners. Perks are large enclosed wooded area, free entry, sunrise to sunset access. Most of the owners are responsible and friendly, but we have run into some owners who should take more responsibility over their wild pets. There are two enclosures: a larger area (where most of the bigger and socialized dogs play) and a smaller area for tiny or dogs that aren't ready for large group play). We haven't had any issues with ticks or fleas yet and my dog is treated. It's important to check your pets frequently after woods play. I do believe that the park cleans it but I'm not sure of the schedule of how frequently it happens. On numerous occasions I have spotted the same poop and throw up in the woods. I can't believe owners just leave their poop without cleaning up after their pets. Y'all have to do better. Overall, it's a great place to bring your pets for exercise and socialization. See ya there.

Nice wide open spaces, area for swimming and fenced in areas for letting your fur babies run…read morearound and socialize with others. There's a paved walk leading from the parking lot to the water and another side where you walk on grass to reach the fenced in area. It was a little confusing our first visit here as we didn't notice any clear signage directing us where to get to the water or other areas from the grassy path. Our pups enjoyed their visit very much and although the small body of water didn't look the cleanest, we still let them cool off and enjoy a swim. The picnic tables in a shaded area were appreciated on a hot day. Bring lot's of drinking water for you and your pet! Also, as with most dog parks, remember that any toys you bring for fetching are likely going to be "fair game" to the many other dogs you might see here.

I would love this place if I were a dog! The water is great and the company even better!read more

So beautiful! Feel like it's been AI, it's paradise. Great experience, what a sanctuary.read more

A wonderful and peaceful place to be if you want to get away from the bustle but not drive too far…read moreout of town. A must if you love great scenery and wide open spaces. Has about 5 miles of trails and recently they have added on off leash area for dogs, with plenty of room to run and play. The park itself is not as big as other forest preserves, but still big enough to be secluded and peaceful. The winding trails take you through heavily wooded areas and prarie areas... I come hear a lot to explore with my dog and go on walks with my fiance. Its nice!

The garden in the name is a bit confusing as it's more about trees. Like 98% trees, 2% flowers…read more Keep in mind I visited in the 3rd week of may...there should be some more flowers. There was a bit of a flower arrangement by where they apparently hold weddings so that was something. But otherwise trees...trees and more trees. The paths are freshly paved and there are many more natural paths that branch off of the main paved paths. We walked around the perimeter of the garden staying on the paved paths. There wasn't much to view but I did see one wild turkey so I added a star for that. We also took one short dirt path just to see...but it was just a short dirt path through the trees. If this place was free...I'd of liked it more I think. But at $12 per person it seemed like paying to hike through a nicely maintained park. I ended up here because Anderson Japanese Gardens were overflowing with attendees. So I went here where there were like 4 cars worth total on same exact day. Anderson btw charges about the same price so...maybe it's an entertainment value for the dollar deal? I think so. If you are a manager here...everything was very well maintained...you just need to give people more color to see on the main paved paths.

Certainly it's not anything comparable to the big popular arboretums and botanical gardens those…read moremay think of, but for Rockford it's good. It's not a humongous one, but there's plenty of ground to cover and nature to see. Klehm Arboretum has a respectable collection of flowers, plants, and trees. A lot of family activities. There's often some kind of special event going on for children and family things. A lot of the gardens are specific toward one plant species or a family. It of course has better viewing in the spring and summer, but any time of the year has something to check out. The visitor's center is the first place most people come to. Get a map. You can find out where all the gardens are and which paths to go on. It has a pretty cool pond garden in front you should stop at. There's a Prehistoric Garden featuring a T-Rex. Also children will enjoy the Fountain Garden. This is a way to cool off in summer. Even though the programs say there's an admission charge, you can still usually get in free. It's not like there's anyone at the gate. This is best in the summer, but there's also later year activities like hay mazes and whatever.

I'm not usually a dog park person but this is not your normal small squished dog park. Lots of room…read moreto run your dogs AND get some excercise yourself ! Beautiful!

Lakewood dog park is so great. I love all the lake county dog parks they are all peaceful and…read morebeautiful. I like Lakewood because it gets super pretty in the fall and there is no place to swim. So when the weather is getting cold I don't have to tempt my dog who loves swimming by walking her past a pond. There are multiple trails and I've never had a problem with owners not watching their dogs there. Everyone's friendly and the dogs are so happy there. Whether you are walking the trail or hanging out in the front area the dogs are getting great exercise and you get to enjoy the pretty nature.

10/10 park for the dogs! Huge space with little trails and water outlets! Definitely check it out…read moreif looking for a less confined dog park

Amazing dog park! Easy access and parking. It' is the best dog park in Dane county. Beach access to…read moreCLEAN lake/river water. It's not stagnant water covered with algae that could kill my dog.quickly. My dog and I love going to Viking park located: 2525 County Road B - Stoughton, WI

Funded largely by the Gary Lang auto dealership, McHenry residents can enjoy year round access to…read morethe park for $15/non-residents for $25. An amazing deal! Waste/potty bags freely available. Let your pups off leash and watch them have the time of their lives...