This was an option for parking during the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival. It's about a ten minute or so walk from the parking lot, through the grassy area, passing the river, under the bridge, and finally through to the gate of Tempe Town Lake. During this eventful weekend, arriving early around 6am is ideal for grabbing the coveted spots under the trees. By 8am, the lot is likely full since the first heats have started. Street parking is also more than likely out of the question by then. During some downtime, I got the chance to explore the park and noticed lots of birds on the trees yapping away. Cranes over near the pond picking at morsels as far as I can tell. Canadian geese marching by and chilling near the gazebo. Medium sized fishes, possibly tilapia, congregating upstream in the river. Dog owners hanging and chatting while their pets pat each other down. Joggers passing by being careful not to step on the occasional brownie. Simply put, this is the abundance of the local park experience. read more

Papago Park - Local trees - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I am an out-of-town visitor and overall, the park is fair. There are actually two fenced areas. Both have plenty of seating and there are some trees, looks like the park departments lay hay or something similar down to help absorb smells and probably keep the dust from lifting. They also provide doggy Doodoo pick up bags. And water fountains for the dogs which have plumbed water so you can get fresh water for your pet. What's kind of discouraging is that people bring their dogs and leave the crap literally laying on the ground. I figure people who arrive when there's no one around just don't care. But it's frustrating. It's a dog park. We all share. We should all take care. Papago Park is actually very pretty and it's close to the trail so if you wanna go for a walk on the trails with your dog, it's in very close proximity. If you're here with your family, there's lots of areas to play for the kids as well. And this area of Tempe is very nice. So it's my second time coming and I'll probably come again since I'm here for two weeks. The people I encountered were very friendly and also very willing to do slow intros for our shy dog. So we didn't have any issues at all with aggressive dogs or pet owners who just seemed nonchalant about a small dog mix in with bigger dogs. So I could definitely appreciate that. Just warning to people who bring their dogs: pick up after your pet. No one else wants to pick up your dogs poop!! read more

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We love taking our dogs here for walks. Especially in the winter time and 70 degrees!!

A really nice park for picnics, birthday parties, and hiking also great for walking your dogs and in the heart of the city. The Phoenix zoo is right there as well so it's a nice place to go to the zoo in the morning and have your lunch in the park in the afternoon. read more

We love Papago dog park! There are two areas and lots of trails to use around the park! We go socialize then we go hike! read more

Papago Park - Climbing rock - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Sometimes take my little one (16lbs) there and he loves it. We usually avoid the crowd and go in the middle of the day. Nice big area for the dog to run around and play fetch, and great amount of shaded area for humans to relax. read more

I took my dog for a walk over here this morning and I have to tell you to be very honest that it's not a bad dog park, But the problem is there are so many homeless people and I mean so many homeless people that it's difficult to enjoy walking your dog because everywhere you look there's some guy with a bag full of trash or some guy taking a bath in the pond . So it's difficult to enjoy walking your dog when there's transients everywhere . Just saying . read more

Papago Park - Papago dog park. Homeless everyehere. - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

To be honest, I don't remember much about this dog park, and the other so-so reviews reflect this lack of positive opinion. A friend recommended Papago Park to me since I flew into Phoenix with my husky puppy and wanted him to run around for a bit before a career fair we were working. I almost wrote a review for Papago Park in general, which apparently encompasses many family-friendly activities. I remember the dog play area was a little difficult to find since it was hidden amongst the human sections. We must not have stayed for long. Reading other reviews helped jog my memory about the weird vibes I got... From the small size of the park to the abundance of homeless people, it's no wonder I didn't want to spend more time here. It was close in proximity to the college campuses we were visiting, but if I had a choice, there are other (better) dog parks around. read more

Minnie and I stopped by Papago Dog Park today on a whim... It was a beautiful day and since she was such a good girl in the car with me and at my afternoon meeting, I wanted to reward her. Rather than travel out of our way to go to Chaparral Dog Park (our usual dog park destination), I remembered seeing this place, specifically the fenced in / off-leash area, and we swung by. It was just after 4pm, and there were a handful of dogs there, and more were coming the longer we stayed. It's a lot smaller than Chaparral, and the grass is not the healthiest I've seen... Unfortunately, there were several areas that owners didn't clean up after their pooches too. (Come on, owners, you give the rest of us a bad name!) Anyways, we had a nice 30 minute visit... Minnie sniffed out a few other dogs from behind and then they returned the favor to her. Don't you love how they socialize with each other?! Too cute. Anyways, will this become our dog park of choice? No. Is this a viable option if you're in the area? 100%. read more

Papago Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I don't know why it has so many negative reviews, I really like this park. The dog park on one end of the larger Papago Park itself and it's really big with two sections and both have grass. Always lots of dogs when I'm there but usually one side is empty if you want one with less action. I don't see too much poop left lying around and it seems people are pretty good about picking up after their dogs. read more

Been going here for about a month. Then at 10:30 am on a beautiful day there was a shooting here that scared everyone half to death. Never going back. Nice park but the homeless people there over run the place read more

This was our favorite spot to take the doggers when we lived in Tempe! It's clean and well maintained, there's benches and tables inside the fenced area and plenty of shade in the park. Very pretty space too, I prefer this dog park over any in the Phoenix area. Also nice to just take a walk or have a picnic with or without dogs! read more

Papago Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I frequent dog parks near my house with my rather large pups. This place has two small fenced areas. Compared to other dog parks, this one is cleaner, and quieter. Space is limited, but not so much that the dogs can't romp around. There have been a few aggressive dogs visiting, but if you stay on the other side, all should be ok. Water fountains are still on, and clean, which my dogs appreciate. read more

Terrible place to take your young dog. Owners do not care what their dog does to other dogs. It is very hostile and full of tension. You can feel the negativity when you pass thru the gate. Not a reccomended dog park or park for that matter. At least 3 dogs were unleashed outside the dog park, even though there is a leash law. Of course the law does not apply to them. read more

I have a chihuahua (stereotypical barker but sweet over all). I feel completely safe with her here. All of the negative reviews are completely un-relatable for me. My dog is all of 9 lbs and I've never questioned her safety or my own. read more

Not my favorite dog park in the area but the dogs still loved it! It has two sides in case you want to take your little dogs! Also has a dog water fountain. The park is a good size but I can see how it would get packed. It's also pretty dusty with little to no grass. The park itself was really busy today as there is also a kids playground. The parking lot is small so it was difficult to find parking. There were mostly small to medium size dogs today which was perfect! Must have been 10+ dogs there and all were getting along and happy, until someone showed up with their big wild dog and ruined the mood. We left shortly after. read more

This park has multiple dog parks (usually only one is open at a time) that seem to be dominated by owners with large breed dogs. The little dogs don't stand a chance. Around the dog park is a great picnic area with a playground and pond, however many uncaring, inconsiderate dog owners either let their "well-behaved" dogs run around without a leash (in spite of a leash ordinance) or poop everywhere and not pick it up. So while you are picnicking you have to watch your step. read more

Papago Park - Sunset at the Park! - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Decent size but covered in dog poop from lazy dog owners. The park even supplies poop bags in several spots so there's no excuse!

This is going to be my new dog park. I just moved to Mesa from Phoenix. I've checked out a couple of dog parks and didn't like them. This one is my favorite so far. And so far the one I'm going to every weeks it's a little small and that's why I'm giving it a 4 star instead of 5 but it will do! read more

Stay away from this park. The dogs that frequent this park belong as extras/stand-ins for Cujo. I left Washington Park when I moved to be closer to school and this little park was my only closest option. My dog was never aggressive until she had to defend herself here. All the dogs swarm to the gates when you come (a behavior that makes the incoming dog extremely nervous even aggressive), the owners don't pick up after their dog with the excuse that there are no bags provided, there is no little/big dog separation, and most of the dogs aren't trained to even come to their owner in case of an event. It's like a meth lab waiting to explode. On a busy night, you can literally walk in and feel the tension between the dogs. My last time there, it was extremely busy but I still let my dog in because she's never had any problems before. All the dogs teamed up and chased my 90lb baby the moment she got in and the owners (mostly college students) literally just stared dumbfounded and watched until she snapped back to defend herself. Then I was the one being glared at and given the stink-eye like it was my fault. I'm sorry, I didn't know I just stepped into Michael Vick's backyard by accident instead of the dog park. I had to re-socialize my dog at one of the fancy, for-rich people indoor doggy daycare (thank heavens for Groupon) and finally, 1 1/2 years later, my dog can finally step foot in a dog park. She's still prone to ignore other dogs and doesn't tend to be very social with the dogs in the park, but it's a step in the right direction. Wish I had never gone here. read more

I would leave zero stars if I could. Where do I begin. I used to love going to this dg park when I first moved here. I have an 8 lb Pomeranian, so I was a bit apprehensive about the park being mixed between all dogs, but he is quite feisty so I knew he could hold his own. After a few weeks of coming here I noticed he didn't play quite as much sometimes as he did at other parks. He seemed a bit timid around the other dogs, which is NOT his personality. And it was because there was so much tension between lots of the dogs here. I could even feel it. The biggest reason I no longer come here though is because people here do not watch their dogs. I've seen so many dog fights and watched people do nothing. They just watch as their dogs repeatedly attack and get into scuffles with multiple other dogs. Obviously your dog needs to take a breather for a bit so take it aside and let it calm down! The last time I came here literally every dog in the park except for mine, a few other little ones, and a husky got involved in a huge brawl that left some bleeding. AND NOBODY TRIED TO BREAK UP THE FIGHT. Finally the owner of the husky ran over and did something. It scared me and my pom so much that I never took him back. I'd rather drive an extra 15 minutes to Chaparral than have my dog end up in stitches or worse. read more

This is a great dog park for folks in Tempe who want a nicer offering than the smaller off-leash areas within the parks near downtown (like the one on 5th just west of Mill and the other park in the older neighborhood nearby south of University). I normally drive all the way down to Chapparal Dog Park, but Papago is just as scenic and clean--only a bit smaller. Most all of the owners have a good handle on their dogs--you will get a full mix of sizes and there is usually only one enclosed area open at any given time. There is a parking lot near the playground nearby but I prefer just leaving my car on the street as it is a shorter distance to the park and my dog is less distracted by the kids running around. Finding this place can be a bit tricky, but if you're coming from Mill, drive east on Curry and then take a right on College (south). If you're coming from Rural/Scottsdale Road, go west on Curry and take a left on college (park is on the right hand side). The dog drinking fountains are pretty weak, so bring water or a bowl. Also, my dog gets pretty dirty here as it tends to be muddy in some areas. read more

This dog park is the closest to my house so the easy choice for letting my pups go out for a play date. We used to frequent this dog park all the time, mainly because of location, but have since stopped going. There are two runs, one open at a time. They are fairly sizable so have a good amount of space for prancing and running but the grass is sub-par. There is no agility equipment here just open space and a picnic table or two. Nothing special. Standard dog park complaints... people not watching their dog for bad behavior, not picking up poop, letting their kids use the dog park as a playground, etc. In the end we stopped going here because a young couple brought their pit bull here that didn't care for my dog. They weren't paying attention to their dog and it ended up biting my hand when we tried to leave. read more

This park is just alright. There is a homeless population in the surrounding area, the dog area is tucked in the back of the park. I do not feel safe there alone. I have passed by needles in the surrounding grassy areas. The dog park is small in size and dry grass for most of the year. This park is always scattered with poop and poop bags, particularly around the edges. Over time I have found that the visitors to this dog park in particular have dogs that are questionable. To some level it is to be expected, but I have noticed an unusually high number of irresponsible owners. Dogs that are prey driven and not safe for small dogs, owners that keep their dog on a leash when interacting (as if that doesn't create more issues), dogs that are resource guard the only water station, and dogs that are completely out of control while snapping at other dogs. It seems like every time I come here there is a lottery of odd owners and dogs alike. I can drive an extra mile and go to a park where I've only seen one incident of dog aggression. There are better dog parks in the area. 2 stars is for the gorgeous view of Papago. read more

This is a good dog park. There are two sides. When they're doing maintenance on one side, the other is open and vice versa. There are ample bags in the fences for picking up after your pet, and benches in the shade so dog owners can sit and monitor their dogs. The park isn't very big, but it's not too bad. You meet some good dog owners here. There are doggie scuffles sometimes, but owners are pretty good about separating their dogs when that happens. It can get crowded around the time people get off work, so I don't go during that time unless it's necessary. I'll be back. read more

We decided to try this park out because it has the playground nearby for my daughter. Our regular dog park is wonderful and all the people are super friendly and always clean up after their dogs. Plus they know how to stop a problem BEFORE it's a problem. That being said... I'm starting to understand why people dislike the majority of dog parks...I saw several dogs just pooping wherever and in a smaller park like this one is you it gets piled up fast. So it's not a clean park at all. There's also no decent shade. But the main reason I won't be back is because I feel like if you have a very large dog who is being very rough with a small dog you should do more to correct it than just call your dog's name. I shouldn't have to pull your dog off mine. And yes, I understand dogs "play" but good God, the 4th or 5th "no" directed at your dog or removal of your dog's living chew toy by a stranger should give you a clue that something is wrong. Perhaps I'm just overprotective or even a bit anal about proper dog behavior but at least I care and don't stare at my phone the whole time waiting for someone else to correct my dog. read more

In a pinch, this park will do. It has a nice view of Papago and it is nested in a small park. I have been going here for the past 2 years and I have to say... there is something weird about the place. More often than not, there are super aggressive Pit Bulls in there with owners who seem to not even notice that their dogs are bullying the entire park. Dogs will be dogs, I know... but not REALLY mean dogs. I once saw a Pit Bull Scare the living crap out of a smaller breed. It scrambled so fast up its owners leg into her arms. The girl started freaking out screaming because the Pit Bull continue to jump in the air trying to get at the little dog. The Jackass owner pretty much sat there and watched. I was yelling at him trying to wrestle down his Pit Bull till he seemed to finally wake up to reality and get his dog under control. weird? yeah, weird. I guess since the park is a bit isolated and off the beaten path it gets a bit... gritty and bummy. At least they always have crap bags... read more

All the reviews on here are 2 years old, except for mine and one other, so take note of that before basing your decision off Yelp! A friend and I brought our 3 dogs (a Lab, a Lab/Pit and a German Shepherd/cattle dog) here this morning. They had an absolute blast for the most part! The park is large without being so big you lose your dog, really clean (not one piece of poop to be found and today's owners were picking up after their dogs) and double-gated (a MUST for dog parks). The owners all seemed very attentive and were friendly to all the dogs that came up to them begging for a ball to be thrown or a scratch. I loved that the owners played with everyone's dog, not just their own. The only real complaint I had was of one owner who brought a small terrier in, which was chasing/nipping/herding at the (all large breed) others to the point where they either wouldn't go near him or were snarling at him. He eventually jumped in the middle of a ball chase, and tripped an older Golden, who collided into my GSD. The poor Golden was traumatized and and was taken home, and my dog (who's just a pup) was freaked out and stayed under my bench for the next hour. I understand collisions happen, but the owner made no apologies, nor was he trying to discipine his dog from his other behaviors. I'm sorry, but he's not playing WITH the others, he's being an obnoxious twat. TL;DR for the above paragraph: Don't bring your tiny, aggressive dog into a park full of big dogs. It would be nice if they had a separate small dog area. Otherwise ,4 stars! read more

Can't find a decent dog park in Arizona. Tried this one and it was locked up and closed, with no prior notification on any site. From the outside, it is a small/medium size dog park with benches and trash cans but you must bring your own doggy bags fyi. read more

We always have a great coming here. We have 2 medium size dogs, one is on the older side, around 12 and the other is around 6 years old. They both have so much fun and can do their own thing (play or just hang out and smell all the smells). All the owners we encounter are always super chill and friendly. When we went this morning there was a mix of about 10-15 dogs: small puppies, medium and really big dogs. Everyone got along great! Never encounter any sort of drama when we stop by read more

Papago Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This dog park is simple enough. It's small and convenient but it has two things that will ruin any good dog park. 1. It's very close to a playground. Kids love to come in and play with (or even pick up) random peoples dogs. Which is not okay. It creates such a hostile environment and makes all the owners nervous. 2. People who have no idea what dog park etiquette is. Every time I come here I experience at least one owner who doesn't watch their dog, doesn't pick up their dogs waste, or gets mad at someone elses dog when clearly it's their dog causing the problem. Also those owners who hover over their dog and push any other dog trying to sniff or play with them away. My dogs love this park but I won't bring them here because I'm always terrified of what kind of situation might happen with the inevitable kids and stupid pet owners. read more

My dog likes it here. The City usually keep the poop bags stocked and regularly empties the trash cans. The dog fountains are operational. The people are kinda obnoxious. Meets all of the minimum dog park criteria for me and Brutus. read more

This place is fun until the terribly behaved trashy pit bull owners show up, and then it basically turns into a mad house because they can't control their dogs. I'm not sure if it's just the demographic in this area, or the type of individuals they attract, but I've ended up just turning around and leaving almost every time due to this same circumstance. As others have said, they're almost always the type that will just stand there and watch their dogs start fights and laugh or do nothing. In the future I'll just go out of my way to go somewhere that at least has separate big and small dog areas. read more

I went to Papago Dog Park early this morning. My fury babies LOVED it !!!! It is a very Beautiful park!! read more

Papago Park - This is a picture of just how tired they STILL are after being back for two hours already!! - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I bring my medium sized dog here almost every day to play with her pals. She loves it and most of the dog owners are super friendly. Once in a while an irresponsible dog owner will come in however this has occurred at every dog park I've ever been to. There's some shady areas to stand when the sun is beating down and fountains for the dogs to drink out of. read more

Papago Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I tried this dog park for the first time about 2 weeks ago in the afternoon and only one other dog/owner were there. We went back around 8pm one night and again only one other dog/owner which I thought was odd. It's not as nice as the Chaparral Dog Park (McDonald/Hayden Road in Scottsdale), and I wish it had more grass than dirt because your dog can get very dirty. It's worse by the dog fountain because there is no grass, only dirt surrounding it which means a big muddle puddle. Fast forward to today when I took my dog back to this dog park since it's Saturday and I anticipated he'd have a number of dogs to play with. The parking lot and street parking were full but we rode back and forth for about 15 minutes and finally got a spot, then walked to the one dog enclosed area where 5 other dogs were playing. Unfortunately the other owners were getting ready to leave, except for one person with her dog. I was a little skeptical because that dog had no tags (a rule posted right on the large entry and interior park signs) so I could have left right away but thought that would be odd so said to the woman something like "Even though your dog has no tags I assume he/she had been vaccinated." Her response was that there was no need since the dog is always with her. I responded by pointing out it is a rule and she called me an f'ing (C word). Needless to say my dog and I left the dog park right away. In addition to the classless trash mouth on this woman I later saw her get on a scooter and have her dog run alongside - in this heat. Anyway, we'll probably continue to drive an extra 5-10 minutes to the much nicer dog parks at Hayden/McDonald in Scottsdale. read more

Wow. I just wish I could tell the people there on Monday at around 5-5:30, that you are lucky that I punched the fence and not your face. What a nightmare. Most of the dogs there ran over mine, only one stepped up. Apparently her dog just likes to play with little dogs. Really, is that why your mutt attacked mine when we were in between the exit gates trying to leave? It's ok, he just likes to play, right? I do have to give her some credit because at least she kind of tried (obviously not hard enough). Unlike ALL the others that just sat there. I saw two dogs take massive dumps and no one did anything. This was like a minefield of dump.Then I got the pleasure of stepping in a pile and squishing it into my Adidas. I asked if anyone cleaned their dogs shit, no response. But a couple with an ugly crap dog laughed. Another that repeatedly ran over mine and all they could say, "oh stop pickin on that dog" NOT BOTHERING TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE BENCH! It took all I had not to show them something that was really funny. My dog getting trampled and yelping and stepping in dog shit, not funny. Taking my poop shoe and rubbing it in your face....now that is hilarious. But I refrained. By the time I pulled that dog off mine (which was followed by someones stupid mouth) I thought, hit the fence out of sheer anger, or go to jail for beating someone? I chose fence. Not a peep came out of peoples mouths then. Don't let the blond hair and small dogs fool you, I will beat you down like your momma obviously should have. If you got a big dog and it chases the little dogs and tramples them, do yourself a solid and CONTROL YOUR DOG. Because the next time, it could be mine that it trampled, and I'm out of free passes on that situation. read more

My dogs loved the park, but when our park was closed for repairs we began going here. It wad Ok at first, but after a month or so we began encountering agressive dogs, and their owners did not care to watch their dogs or break up fights. I have to say this park has some of the rudest doggie owners I have ever seen. They are cold and unwelcoming which is not normally what I'm used to. We may ocassionally go there when it is late because they are open until midnight and no one will be there. read more

My 2 doggos LOVE it here! They've never complained, hehe. We've been about 7 times now and have had all positive experiences. It's nice they have a few benches lining the perimeter in the shade, as well as a table in the sun. Poop bags have always been stocked when I've gone. Around 5:30 pm, it gets really busy because everyone's off work and takes their dogs to the park. Last time, there were 16 dogs - dog party!! I actually prefer going around 5:30 right after work because then my dogs have more doggo friends to run around with! Plenty of spots to park, and dead grass everywhere, which is better than just plain dirt. You can't beat the view, either! It's right up against a really cool rock mountain that you can actually hike around on! I do kinda wish they had more toys or balls there, you might want to bring your own because there are usually only like 1 or 2 tennis balls (probably the 2 I left there last time, lol). It's also an amazing place to be during sunset with the mountains right there and palm trees all around. 5 stars! read more

Been going to this dog park on and off for a few months now and every day I have a different experience. The dog park is a good size as long as there aren't to many dogs there. There are 2 different sections which they rotate frequently to let the grass recover which is nice and the entrances have double gates. It is hit or miss with the dog owners though. Certain days I see owners who just sit on the bench and let their dogs do whatever they want and also do not pick up after their pet. Other days I see friendly and attentive owners. The park is right next to a children's play area which causes problems. Parents let their kids run around in the dog park and I've seen a few young ones get accidentally knocked over pretty hard. Sometimes the parents have the kids inside and they don't even have a dog! A warning for outside the dog park. There is a small little trail going up to a small hill/mountain/buttes(whatever you want to call it). Lots of broken glass on the trail. read more