It's a great little dog park nestled inconspicuously in the heart of Capitol Hill and very close to downtown. I live on broadway and it's about a 10 minute walk so very accessible. Like so many others have mentioned, the park is completely pebble/gravel as opposed to grass. In a city as rainy as Seattle, this makes sense. Grass = mud and hole dogging which leads to more mud! My 6 month old doodle loves this place and most of the dog owners pay very careful attention to how their dogs are interacting with the other ones. read more

Within seconds of entering the off-leash dog area, my dog was aggressed by a Shiba Inu who seemed to wanna boss everybody around. The owner wasn't super engaged, so I had to keep an eye on him to make sure he behaved. The park was fine, nothing special. There's an elevated space where dogs can dig, and a lot of space to run. It's central to a lot, so people in neighboring apartments cycled in to give their dogs a bit of exercise, but nobody seemed to stay more than 10-15 minutes. Cons: there's a lot of noise with it being next to Boren Ave and I-5. While we were there at least 3 ambulances blared by. There's a water fountain, but no bowls for dogs to drink from. Overall, it's okay. Not my favorite, but it's the 2nd closest park to my house. I'd come back, but probably drive by first to see what the crowd was like. read more

Plymouth Pillars Park - View toward downtown Seattle. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Another classic monument in Seattle that goes through phases of popularity depending on the types of people already there and what time of day it is. These pillars are original columns from a church that was later demolished after suffering damage during an earthquake. These pillars herald a time when this church defended the rights of Chinese immigrants and supported ideas like woman's suffrage. An example of when Seattle's churches participating in progressive activities since the earliest days. It stands in stark contrast to religious organizations today standing by xenophobia. There is a nearby dog park that is also quite popular with the locals due to the wide ranging views from the park. A great landmark to visit and ponder our history. read more

I'm not gonna channel my inner Cesar Millan or pretend I'm a dog whisperer in the review of this park. I can't even figure my own thoughts at times, let alone my dogs. It's funny -- the psychotic hehe, not the jovial haha -- when owners personify their dog's thoughts and use quote bubbles in reviews. I used to do it when telling stories about my dogs. Then I realized it's the equivalent of baby-talk. Goo-goo! As my dogs' human, I'd give this spot 1 star. I agree about the small area. The city shouldn't have cut the trees when it was converted from the homeless/drug trade haven to a dog park. I wish there's grass and the fence extended. However, this gets 3 stars because for city-dwelling dogs: (1) It serves its purpose. A convenient sniff-and-run corner that breaks the monotony and restriction of leashed-walking urban existence. (2) Off-leash spaces are still far and few in between even in a neighborhood rated recently as most pet-friendly in Seattle. (3) It's well-maintained by congenial park steward, Patrick. There's water fountain, bulletin for announcements/services and bags/bins/trash can. Patrick volunteers to keep the park clean. He maintains a photo page (http://www.myspace.com/plymouthpillarsoffleash) for the regulars. If you don't walk the hills of Capitol and First, has the luxury of driving your dog to a big park, take them to Marymoor instead. Then your dogs will howl, and I quote, "Finally! You yelped and read reviews. What a biped!" read more

Plymouth Pillars Park - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Compared to most off-leash parks, it's not that big. It definitely has enough space for the dogs to run around. It also has a decent amount of seating for the owners. Lastly, it has some water bowls and a fountain to fill up the bowls. The park's ground is also rock (little pebbles), which is actually nice so the dogs don't get super muddy when it rains. The location is right in between cap hill and SLU so it is a great pit stop for those walking back and forth to work. read more

Plymouth Pillars Park - The dogs loved this park and it's super close to downtown Capitol Hill. - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A small park in the city that allows dogs to be dogs and burn some energy. It's really nothing fancy. Definitely nothing worth traveling to get to, but it's clean and provides the local dogs with a space to play with each other -- definitely gets the job done! read more

From what I saw there was a triangle grass area next to the sign for the off leash dog park. The grass was 3 feet tall, the gate didn't shut and there was a homeless camp/trash pile in the corner. It was so bad I wrote an email while I was in there to king county parks. This is supposed to be a Seatle "scenic viewpoint"? Just wanted a place to let my dig off leash at lunch while I was at work. Please tell me this wasn't the right place. It doesn't look like the other pictures on here, bit was right by the pillars? read more

Overall this is a clean safe place to bring your dog friend to run around. This is our first time over here as it is close to our home and we just moved here. This is our first weekend in Seattle. I don't mind there is no grass and from what I can tell, the dogs are happy either way. As humans we over complicate stuff... Chill...forget the grass and sit back and enjoy your dog having her playtime. I wouldn't go over to where the pillars are, as they were surrounded by sketchy persons asking for money. read more

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This is more of a 3.5 star sort of park -- but you know what? My dog Helo loves it here so a slight bump up is totally worth it. This place is also a major upgrade in dog-parking compared to the regrade park I would take Helo to in Belltown -- this park is cleaner, has nicer pooches and and pet-owners, and the volunteer who manages this park is super friendly and works hard to keep this a great community resource. He even has a new FB profile for the park and pictures of the doggy visitors! Small smooth pebbles so dog paws aren't hurt and achy (but boy your shoes get dusty!), a nice people and dog drinking fountain (Helo can't get enough of it) , and dog owners who actually clean up after their pets! Yes! The view you get of downtown ain't that shabby either. read more

I have to say I'm less of a fan than my dog is. He's always pulling to go to this park. Of course he's always pulling to go to ANY park but this is the closest off-leash location for us. The pebbles are round and small and new so the dogs don't cut their paws and the city has added a few new features to the place so it's looking a bit better than before. I used to refer to this park as a "shit-pit" but it's better now. I noticed new trees yesterday. I don't wear nice shoes here because they'll just get dusty but I've found the dogs and people in this park to be nice and somewhat friendly. Patrick has never bossed me around but I tend to go when he's not feeling bossy maybe. He does a great job of keeping the park clean and I really like his myspace page for the dogs. It's fun to see the pooches on line. read more

Is this the best dog park in Seattle? No. Is it a great dog park? No. Is anything about it park-like? No. But never mind about all that. Just think of 5:45 in the morning, cool wet air full of heavy misty drizzle, downtown buildings dotted here and there with bright windows, intensifying ribbons of headlights on the interstate below, Queen Anne Hill looming lit up to the northwest, done with a miles-long run, not quite tired, but tired dog in tow.... For that moment, this is the perfect finale to an early morning out in the city, an easy, convenient spot to stop in for the dog at the beginning of the day. Utility plus aesthetics in the early dark. read more

I love that this park is located where it is. For all the dog owners on CapHill, an off-leash area is paramount - especially since the area is so densely populated. I've met the park facilitator - a nice guy, and he's got a genuine love for dogs! He keeps it clean, and from what I can tell, he does a great job with securing boulders, and other nice-to-haves for the park. My only real gripe is that the park isn't separated into two areas; 1 for larger dogs, and 1 for smaller dogs. I've had a few problems with larger dogs playing too rough with my shiba inu; on a few occasions I've had to leave. A simple divider could fix that. Other than that, it's gold stars all around. read more

I do not get why anyone could say this place sucks. I just moved to Seattle and have 2 Alaskan Malamute puppies. I came here and never had an issue. The place does lack shade that it do wish maybe we could get a nice big tree in the middle. I do think that it is clean. I have only had one instance where a bum was inside the park. I know Magnuson and Marymoor are much larger and my puppies love those places but if you are in a hurry or need to go to work and wanna give your dogs a place to stretch their legs and run around for 20-45minutes this place works! If you think the "gravel" is to much for your dogs paws maybe you need to not get a little yapper pekingenese or whatever rat you call a dog and keep that thing in your house on the couch. I actually am glad it is "gravel" because if it is wood chips or beauty bark I have had more issues with dogs getting splinters in there paws from that stuff. read more

I brought my pug Morty here two days in a row last week. We had a blast! The people and dogs were super friendly. I am writing this review as a warning to other dog parents. The tiny gravel at Plymouth Pillars made Morty's paws raw and red, and now he is miserable. Since this is the only dog park anywhere near me I'm going to try to get him some booties so he can still play. Wish me luck! read more

Plymouth Pillars Park - Morty's paws got so beat up at the park :( - Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The nearby location means that my dog gets to go here often, I prefer the gravel over mud, and the view of the city is great for us humans! Dogs here are friendly for the most part. My only irritation is that some folks bring their dogs toys or balls to play with - which seems idiotic when ten other dogs are here. Anyway, IF there is a game of catch going on my dog inevitably gets in a fight and we have to leave early. read more

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My girl is the first one to run like crazy at a park, but when I let her off the leash, she looked at me with an expression that said: "What are we doing here? This is a dog park?" I understand the intention: off-leash area in a small space, convenient to walk to in Capitol Hill. The gravel makes this a cleaner experience for my velcro-dog. However, even on weekends I haven't seen many dogs here. And did I mention it's small? I think we'll keep walking... read more

Thank goodness I only put a quarter for the parking meter because we did not stay at the park very long. My dog was excited about going into a dog park but once we got inside. She just stood there and looked at me as if she was saying- "what is this?" It's a very small dog park with tiny pebbles. My first thought was- this is a large kitty litter box! EEK! Looking around- it looks like this is just a potty place for dogs who lives in the condo in the area since this area lacks grass/trees. I feel bad for those pooches! At least, they have a place to do their business. Sorry- I will not be back. read more

We found our regular go-to "non-messy" dog park... or, what will be our regular go-to "non-messy" dog park as soon as the wood chips get put in, like the Park Steward's sign mentions. (Our dog doesn't do well with rocks...ends up with sore paws soon after playing on them). It's small but close to us and big enough for our dog to run laps in. It's a good after-work dog park as it seems pretty populated at most hours and it's functional and quaint -- enough mutt mitts and even a cute little doggie / human water fountain! The parking seems like it can be tricky but it's on the bus lines which is great! I'll still take him on an adventure to Marymoor or Magnuson on the weekends, but this looks like a great weekday alternative to let Kobe play.... as soon as those wood chips are in! read more

Smallest, saddest dog park I've ever seen. Would make a better bum park. Hey! It's both, actually! Hope you love freeways. :( read more

This park is divided by big ole Boren Ave. The people park (with 4 big columns) is on PIke/Boren, and the dog park is on Pine/Boren...opposite sides of Boren. Once I saw two dudes fighting here and one backed out into the street and got hit by a car. The best part about the Plymouth Pillars park, (the people park on Pike) is that it creates a natural stage area for free performances. There are also some pretty big trees around the 'pillars' which go a long way protecting people from the sight and noise of I-5. read more

I was again dog-sitting and had two dogs to entertain for the day. After consulting with them (they put their noses on their leashes) I decided that they were definitely up for the dog park. Off to Plymouth Pillars we went, my two charges and me. The Italian Greyhound in the lead and the little Lhasa Apso following right behind, we trotted off the mile trip to the park. I think they enjoyed the trips out and back more than they enjoyed the park. Now, the city is rumoured to have changed the gravel to something more tolerable for pup paws. I don't know what they changed it to, but my two charges definitely found it distasteful. Not only that, but the dogs of Seattle are woefully behind on teaching their owners to pick up after them and the Lhasa Apso walked through at least one pile and got it on his very fluffy paws. Can we say YUCK?!??! C'mon dog owners! Pick up after your pooch! The bags are there, even! If I can do it in the middle of the crosswalk at Harvard and Pine, you can do it in the middle of the dog park. I'm getting a dog in March. Sadly, he will not be visiting this park much at all because I don't want him coming home with poo on his paws and rocks stuck in his fur. I'd rather play fetch somewhere else. read more

I love the location and convenience but I wish it had just a little bit of real grass for the pooches to run on. Some dogs don't like the pebble gravel, mine seems to have gotten used to it but he has more fun at the dog parks with fields. Still, having a dog park less than 2 blocks from downtown living is a blessing. read more

I like this off-lease dog park in particular because the average breeds here are smaller. I have a smaller breed so I feel more at ease when they are interacting with each other. Also it is mostly gravel so...less mess! There is a tree for shade on a hot summer day and places for you to sit. Its not as huge as some dog parks, but I think it's a good size place for your dog to roam around and still be able keep an eye on your dog. Also great, if you are in downtown and walking your dog. You can just walk up Pike Street and let your dog roam free for a few hours while you rest from a hard days worth of shopping. :D read more

I've gone through a few cycles of going to this park because it's a relatively short walk and avoiding it because it's not worth the trek up the hill. The overall crowd (both two and four-legged) seems to have improved a lot over the last year or two and I do appreciate the convenience, but most of the time my dog is more excited about the idea of going to this park than actually being in it, probably because most of the time there aren't many people/dogs around. We get there and he says hello to anybody who is around and then promptly goes to town with carrying each and every tennis ball he can get his mouth on to one of the few shady spots and just playing with those instead of the other dogs. In other parks he plays non-stop -- not sure what it is about this one. He still ends up a dirty dustball, though. Don't let the rocks fool you into thinking it'll be cleaner than wood chips! The guy who stewards the park is great, though. Major props to him for being so involved and really making an effort to meet everyone and take care of the place. read more

Weird vibes. Dog owners are often checked out, listening to headphones or not quite paying attention to dogs. Many of the dogs are not quite socialized (e.g. tend to snap at or not engage with other dogs who are play bowing and wanting to socialize; also saw two dogs engage in play by taking turns humping each others' heads). Additionally, the amount of gravel tends to leave our dog grimy after a session there. Guy who takes care of the park is nice and runs Capitolhilldogs on Facebook. I'm glad a park in the area exists, but I'd rather walk the dog instead. read more

It's not a bad park, but it's not a good park. The whole park is covered in gravel with very little of interest and also VERY dusty and hot. The other dogs and people are fairly nice but I have on several occasions had to deal with people not keeping their overly aggressive dogs in line. Then there is the goon that likes to lord over the park and tell you what's best for your dog. I have a small dog, about 13 pounds, who was cornered by several overly excited large dogs that where actually biting her before I could get her off the leash. When I jumped in and pulled her out of the fray he decides he needs to tell me how I need to let the dogs sort it out and not get involved. I've run into this a lot there and not just from this person, but it's mostly in the late afternoon that these personalities show up. Morning visits have been fairly successful on the other hand. read more

Hercules likes licking the carpet. Hercules likes eating saran wrap. Hercules likes chasing flies. Hercules likes pretty much everything you can think of, but he does not like this dog park. Whether it was the pebbles hurting (or feeling weird under) his paws or the large number of dogs stuck in a small, fenced area, he was not feeling our morning trip to Plymouth Pillars. After a few minutes inside the gates and a few failed attempts to play fetch, he just stood next to me as if to say, "C'mon. Places to go, dogs to see." If he didn't have such a strong reaction against the park, I may give it another go just out of sheer convenience, since I don't have a car and therefore tend to stick around the hill/downtown. However, it's no fun dragging a pup to a park when he doesn't want to play and it's no fun getting your shoes covered in a thick coat of dust. Guess we'll just stick to our neighborhood walks! read more

HUGE, fenced in area with a nice stream of dogs and responsible owners passing through! Is the gravel annoying? Yes. But having recently moved from New York, I'm not sure what everyone and their complaints were so upset about. Everyone seems to be used to diva parks. This park is clean, functional, fenced with nice double gates, has running water, trash cans, and a place where our dogs can run free! read more

This is my local dog park and I have to say it is a great spot. Some people have an issue with the rocks/pebbles but it doesn't bother my dog one bit. We have made some great friends both for me and Molly. if you have a dog and you live in the Capital Hill - Downtown area this is a spot you should check out. read more

It ain't big. It ain't green. It ain't quiet. But it gets the job done for the urban dwellers and their humans. Yeah sometimes the water fountain gets used as a bathroom sink for some of the more transient residents of the 'hood. But oral hygiene is important. read more

We went to this dog park for the first time this weekend. It was a very lovely day but there were not very many dogs there for Doobee to play with so it was a little boring for him. I had to run around for him to get some exercise and although the gravel floor is great for the no mud factor, it's a little difficult to run in heh. Doobee had fun overall though and we did run into another Boston terrier and met the stewart who took our picture. Doobee was pretty cute drinking from the dog drinking fountain too. It's a great city location for a dog park and the no mud thing is great. Oh, the park stewart also said they are expanding it all the way to Pine/Boren so that is awesome! read more

Great park. The steward is a little agressive and unpleasant, but the park is great. I like to play fetch with my dog and she loves the mixture of 80% urine/feces mix in the gravel there. read more

This dog park is pretty well kept and the dogs here are always really friendly along with the parents. I live in First Hill so it's nice to have a dog park in walking distance. The reason I am only giving it three stars is because I am spoiled by Marymoor dog park which is huge! My dog is kind of a priss and likes grass and lots of room to run, and this park just doesn't offer it. But I will be back on days I can't make it to the east side. The one plus side is there is lots of places to sit, and because it's so small you don't have to walk around with your dog. read more

I walk by this park most days of the week and rarely see humans sans-dogs here. It is definitely a dog-lover's zone. There's no green space and it is loud as hell since I-5 is nearby. Still, it is convenient for lower Capitol Hill dog owners. read more

It's like going to the bookstore for a dog, except the books are urine.

I've gone here twice for the dog park. So far all of the dogs I've encountered have been really nice. The people there are hit or miss. One guy kept trying to pick up my puppy but my puppy didn't want to be picked up and kept jumping off of him at a bit of a height. You'd think the guy would get a clue. I tried to tell him he didn't want to be picked up. My biggest complaint is that my dog gets way too dirty from all the gravel. I usually plan to go if he is close to needing a bath. I'm unsure if he really likes it here. He seems to be ready to leave after 5 minutes of playing. read more

I'm glad the park exists. Otherwise, my high energy dog would have less opportunity to exercise. I've been going everyday (usually twice a day) for a couple weeks now and haven't had any problems. It is unfortunately small, and there are too many obstacles that prevent dogs from getting a full stride run. But my dog has had good playful experiences there. It is kept clean, especially considering how many people don't clean up after their dogs. The gravel doesn't seem to affect my dog, but might be bad for sensitive paws. read more

My dog didn't like this park the first 2 times she has been there but now if were a block away she drags me to the gate and practically jumps over the fences to get in read more

Been Park Steward for over 3 years and always looking to hear from dog owners Pro or Con that is the only way that things have a chance to change.Once your dog comes a few times and smells other dogs they seem to relax more about the gravel.....I do enjoy taking photos of head shots of dogs and the posting them every day as pictures of the day on myspace/plymouth pillars off leash.com read more

I don't get the negative reviews... I think this place is great! Bo literally drags me here, and we live a mile away. He loves the opportunity to interact with the other dogs, and more importantly, to pee in every place possible. All of the other owners have been friendly, as has the steward. It's an off leash dog area in downtown Seattle... c'mon people! read more