This is a haven for my little guy Cooper. What I really love about the park is you do have to pay a membership fee to get in the park. The park district does require vaccination and medical paperwork for all pooches to enter so not anyone can just bring their dog would properly being vetted. You also have to scan your card when you enter in the park so you pretty see the same folks. I love the fact that they have a smaller area for the smaller guys only and people who have small dogs take this very seriously. It's nice to have an area dedicated to the small pooches without fearing a big pup attack. They also have grass which is huge and saves pup's paw pads! Areas of improvement is that they need to clean the park more frequent than they do. There is often poop in the park that of course should be owner responsibility to clean it but the park should do its job to clean the park daily. They should also actively replenish poop bags. All in all, I'm pretty happy my dog has his social club to meet up with his friends for pup hour. read more

what a great park when it's open which is less and less common. A crew of five "working " on park improvements closed the park again this morning. Three were standing around, one sitting at the park bench and one trimming grass. I love the place but it's no good closed read more

My Milo loves coming to this park. It's spacious, lots of green grass and pretty clean. There are plenty of tennis balls to play fetch. I was initially skeptical about coming to this place due to the negative reviews. The gate is fixed and can be entered via a key card. Dog owners that I have met are pretty responsible. I noticed that if their dog starts to act up, they will remove the dog from the environment and leave. I appreciated that as it shows how responsible they are for their dog as well as for others. read more

Pooch Park - Milo and his play buddies - Dog Parks Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Great spot to let your dog run free! Dogs love it. It is dog heaven for my "grand-dog." There even is an obstacle course for small dogs. For the most part, people clean up after their pets; so the park is clean. There is ample parking. It is a great place to meet other dog-lovers. The park is located next to an industrial park, so the atmosphere isn't ideal; but the dogs don't care about that. It is also a docking slip for kayaks; so that makes the area busy...especially on weekends. The park was closed during the Covid-19 lock-down. I don't understand why, except that at the time they were being overly cautious. I felt very safe so far as Covid-19 goes. It is outdoors and the restrooms were clean. Today, it was fun watching the a group of greyhounds running free from one end of the park to the other. We also met a dog that was named Theo. That's my grandson's name! I won't forget that dog!!! read more

We are traveling through town but you must have a membership to this place. Can't even buy a one day pass. People are here and they won't let us in because we don't have a pass. read more

Most people and dogs I've met are very nice. I've only encountered one aggressive dog, and it was owned by a woman who slapped it hard on its head for no apparent reason, so I hope I won't see them again. I'm only giving this three stars because much of the main field lacks grass and is covered with a dry soil that is reclaimed from sewage. The park should fence off this area for a couple months and allow grass to grow back. read more

Stay away! We bought a membership over the summer & our Beagle-mix loved it! Then one day in August, he was viciously attacked by another dog & the owner disappeared while we were tending to our seriously wounded pup. Over weeks, even while on an extended trip to Europe, I made several attempts to encourage the Skokie Park District & their head of Risk Management to help me track the dog owner down. After all, as members, we have an application to complete & must scan our membership card at the secured gate each time we use the park. That should narrow it down, right? Not when the secured gate hasn't functioned in 18 months! That's right, directly from the mouth of a Skokie Park District employee. We had actually been sold access to a secured dog park which wasn't secure at all. I believe I read that the gates are now officially secure. If this is true, I'd like to think that my dog's attack helped make that happen. Either way, Pooch Park should have made an effort to make this right from refunding our membership to picking to our $300 emergency room visit. read more

The potential exists to be great IF IF IF there was actual response to legitimate concerns. Non-members continue to utilize the member-only park because it's open, or another non-member lets them in. We spend a lot of money to have our dogs tested and approved yearly, then outsiders with intact males and 4 agressive huskies, and have no regard for our purpose and concerns. They have been degrading about others asking if they're members. No members are bothered by being asked. Now all the small dog area is unmarked, outsiders are arguing with young ladies about "show me the signs". "You are not the boss." It's uncomfortable because we never know who's there since the gate is open to all. read more

This is the best dog park in the area. It is well maintained by the skis park district. The park itself is relatively large and fenced so the dogs can run free. The is an agility area as well as an area for small dogs and puppies that are also completely enclosed by a fence so if you can segregate dogs if there is an issue. The vast majority of dogs are well behaved as well as their owners but they are dogs after all so you will need to keep an eye on your dog. Overall I would have to say it is the happiest place on earth for your dog! read more

I really like this pooch park. A. It's convenient because I live up the block. B. My very active mutt needs to get out and release all that energy. The yelp reviewers are right about some of the self righteous dog owners here but the majority of the people I run into are nice. I think the best time to come is night time around 9 pm as the people and the dogs are friendlier. The only downside is that there is a fee for the park meanwhile the pooch parks in the city of Chicago are free. read more

This review is not necessarily for the park, because it's pretty great, but the patrons. Some of the earlier reviews are spot on regarding some owners. We've been to this park a few times and never had any run-ins...until this past weekend. I was having a bad day and I just needed to get away and enjoy the sun, so why not give the dog a break too and take her to the huge dog park to burn off some energy. We arrived and as we're walking in my dog started sniffing along the small dog area. We got to the table area and a woman was standing there with the gate open to the small dog area. My big dog likes little dogs and because there were quite a few trying to get at her to sniff, etc. she wandered into the area. I walked in behind her and closed the gate. My dog was literally 2 feet in the gate and I had my hand still on the gate when this woman comes bee-lining towards me saying, "This is the small dog area! Did you read the rules!? You obviously didn't read the rules!" (I want to state here that I have indeed read the rules (months ago) and that I didn't realize there even was a small dog area, as I've NEVER seen any dogs in that area. Also, there were some good sized medium (maybe 50lb) dogs in the area with the small dogs, so who could know?) She then said shrilly, "And absolutely NO choke collars allowed!!" She continued to belittle me in front of the other people there, asking snottily, "do you have a pass? You need a pass. You could get fined (looking me up and down) $1,000 if you don't have a pass!!!" I said okay, we'll go. As we were walking back towards the Sam's Club lot, I could see the woman talking to the other biddies in there, pointing and gossiping. I mean, really. I was so stunned by her outburst, I didn't know what to say. I easily could have removed the choke collar and I could have told her I had already applied for a pass, etc. But dammit I was so stunned that this woman was so snotty and righteous that I just wanted to leave. The worst part? My dog didn't even get a single run in...so she was just as bummed out as I was! I won't be back until we get our pass (though, does anyone EVER check them?) and we will be sure to stay away from the small dog area. If I ever see that woman again, I'll be sure to give her a piece of my mind. She really made a bad day, worse. Ugh. As for the park, it's pretty awesome! Lots of space for dogs to run, lots of bushes to sniff and usually a few dogs to play with! If it weren't for the owners, I'd rate this much higher. read more

My newest discovery (thanks to other Yelper's suggestions)!!! The pooches and I have been here three times now. They now KNOW when I load them both in the car (they just might NOT be going to get shots)!!! Too excited! This park is set-up perfectly!! They have a doggie water fountain. Huge amount of land to run, catch balls and play. A separate fenced area for the ankle-biters and the puppies. An agility area with apparatus; a hanging tire to jump through, a raised plank bridge, a jumping fence, etc. Bags available for you-know-what. Double gates (so no one escapes) on both the south and north ends of the park. Plenty of parking. Friendly dogs and their owners. What a great way to spend a couple of hours with your furry kids!! Guaranteed dogs napping for hours when I get home!! read more

This place is absolute heaven! 2.5 acres of fenced off land for your dog to run around in and plenty of other friendly dogs and dog owners to socialize with. A doggy fountain with plenty of water bowls around the place in case the dogs get thirsty... and on a sunny day after running around after balls and each other, they will. Humans have benches under shade to sit on. :) We went with Charlie for the first time this weekend and he had so much fun. There is one main area where all the dogs hang out at, a smaller fenced in area for puppies and dogs under 35 lbs, and an agility area. You will need to make sure your dog is up to date with the vet (vaccines, fecal test, etc) and have a city license. Then a permit for Pooch Park will set you back $40 for a dog as an Evanston resident. It is entirely worth it though. Seeing your dog run free with a big happy face (!!!) with a bunch of other dogs and sniffing all the butts he can handle is great, especially when he is stuck inside a condo most of the time. They also have poop bags in little birdhouses all over the place and plenty of trash cans to throw them away in. Pooch Park is east of McCormick Blvd. You can either park in the SW corner of the Sam's Club/Food4Less parking lot on Main or the Dammrich Rowing Center parking lot on Oakton and walk north to the gate. The parking lot on Oakton can be a little tricky to find as the sign is TINY... keep your eyes peeled (it is near the enormous towing company sign). read more

Came to the park today for the first time with my rambunctious 15 month old dog who literally goes to Beck lake dog park 4 times a week and never had a run in. He was admittedly humping this one dog after a few minutes. I get it, it's annoying but let's face it, rather normal. The dog owners didn't seem too disturbed and so I let them play--closely watching him. I was visibly embarrassed but tried to let the dogs figure it out. Then the other dog is getting a bit frustrated, I see it, am walking over to break it up and a man sitting on a bench picks up my dog with the chain around his neck off the ground and carries him toward me and drops him on the ground not knowing I'm his owner. (My dog is 70 pounds). I am now right up to him and say "you didn't have to do that to my dog" and he said "you never know when these situations get violent, your dog doesn't seem aggressive but I've been bit before". I turned around and my scared dog ran to the exit gate, another man is consoling him, and he just wants to leave. I go console him and walk back and tried speak to the man and there is now a clique of dog owners whispering. I go up and say "do you think that was justified?!" And he says yes and another woman says, "yes, humping is impolite and my dog was yelping", and another says "if it were me, I would have hit him with my ball throwing stick". I'm not surprised that people suck...but please people. Just ask the owner human to leave and take the dog home, don't hurt the animal. My dog may have been humping and annoying and I'm sorry for not controlling him better or yelling at him for something natural (he's neutered and is a rescue). You can yell at me, curse at me, tell me to leave if you choose to do so. Do NOT hurt animals. They are totally innocent. Never going here again. I totally see what other reviewers mean about crazy, neurotic, classless dog owners here. read more

Don't go here . Many people bring aggressive dogs that attack other dogs, owners feel entitled to bring there aggressive dogs here. Our friendly female dog was rushed by an aggressive dog and bitten, the owner never apologized or offered to pay for the vet bill. We stayed away for awhile and decided to give it another try. Never going back, as the following happened...I suddenly noticed a woman holding her friendly little white dog in her arms, a pit bull was jumping on her trying to get at her little dog who was crying. The woman who owned the pit bull was half way across the park and noticed - her pit bull did not respond to her voice commands, so she started to run over. In the meantime the woman with the white dog was putting her little dog in in the little dog area to get her dog away from the pit bull. Another woman in the little dog area started to yell at the woman with the little dog, telling her not to put her little dog in the little dog pen, because her 100+ lb Rottweiler was in there for a reason - because it was aggressive. She also could not call her dog back and had to run over to grab her dog. It is unbelievable good luck that the little white dog or the dog's owner was not hurt. Neither of those women took their aggressive dogs home. read more

Our two dogs are like our kids and they are very high energy breeds, so we spend a lot of time at the park with them. POOCH Park has become our favorite park because of it's size, location, and the friendliness of other users. There is an agility area, if your dog is into that kind of thing. Our dogs are not. There's also an area for smaller dogs, so they are not overwhelmed by the larger dogs. I really like the fact that there's a doggie drinking fountain, which is truly useful during the summer months. It's turned off once the weather turns cold, but many visitors then bring their own water. We don't live in Skokie or Evanston, so we pay the non-resident fee, but it's well worth it. We spend at least 4-5 hours per week at POOCH Park. read more

This is the worst park ever. 1. The dogs are not nice. They will bark at you yet, the owners don't do anything about it. 2. When people's dogs poop the owners don't pick it up. 3. Waste of $40. Don't go here. read more

This is a great park serving the Evanston/Skokie area. Easily accessible off 2 major streets (Main or Oakton), this spacious park has some great features. Separate large and small dog areas, an agility court, plenty of doggie bags/trash cans and a covered area for seating, this is the place to go if your dog needs to run around, socialize or just come to change up your daily walking routine! You do need a permit and they do have inspectors come out and check periodically so look alive! Otherwise the dogs and owners are super nice! We always make friends each time we visit read more

It's hard to believe that our new home & neighborhood of Evanston has far more conveniences than our former hood (South Loop), but it's true. It's especially true for our pups; there are a slew of dog friendly parks in Evanston, but none as friendly as Pooch Park, and luckily for us we live a mere 2 minutes from this dog playground. Pooch Park has all the things dogs love: lots of grass, lots of balls, water fountains (for drinking and splashing around), and plenty of space. There are 3 areas: the main area for running around, playing catch, traveling in packs and taking us humans down at the knees. There is a smaller fenced-in area for little dogs, puppies, or those dogs who prefer a calmer environment. Lastly there's the agility-area, separately fenced, which my dogs have no interest in but I think it's cool that it's there. The water fountains are great, especially in the hot summer. The dogs love to stand under the taller one and bite the water, and there are plenty of bowls for drinking..or splashing in. They are turned off in mid-October, but, people are great about bringing jugs of water for the dogs to share. There is a real feeling of community at the park and that's one of my favorite things about it. For Evanston & Skokie residents the annual fee is $40 for 1 dog or $55 for two, and it's well worth the price, especially for us. Living just east off of Oakton means we are able to go several times during the week and all throughout the weekend. Our bubbas get exercise and plenty of socialization, and that makes for happy dogs. And, they both go down like sacks of rocks afterward! read more

Seeing as this is the only Skokie park dogs are permitted to set foot in, fortunately it's a good one, lush and expansive. My dogs love it, running inside at top speed the second I open the inner gate. There's plenty of room to run and play, and we've also had some fun in the agility area. After going at regular days and times for over a year, we've gotten to know quite a few of the other "regulars" and enjoy playtime and conversation. It seems that most of the complaints here are about personalities. Well, guess what? You're dealing with people and dogs; personalities are part of the package. Not all dogs are going to get along, and neither are all people. Likewise you can't expect all dogs or all people to become instant friends. Sometimes it takes patience and effort. Sometimes it takes avoidance. Always it takes compassion. Yes, some people are negligent, which can hurt the experience for others. But we also need to take responsibility for our own experience. There are days/times my family avoids because the park is too chaotic for my more high-strung dog. There are dogs we know are bad news, and we go to the opposite end of the park. If someone misses that their dog is pooping, we say something -- and appreciate it when the favor is returned. If it's not working, ask yourself if there's something you could be doing differently that would make it work better. Note: the fee schedule has changed so that now residents and nonresidents are charged the same amount for a pass. read more

The park itself is nice but a lot, not all, of the dog owners are just a-holes. There is a small clique if people who are regulars that don't seem to welcome new comers. One of their dogs was gritting his teeth at my dog and was obviously ready to pounce. The dog snapped at my dog but missed and when he went to do it again, I yelled at the dog and startled it. From a distance far enough to where she could not see, the owner responded in an annoyed tone "They're just playing". --- A-hole #1 Another member of the same group opened the second gate before closing the first gate and my dog was alone outside the dog park next to the Sam's Club parking lot. When I ran over and got my dog back inside the guy said "That was close". That was his only acknowledgment to what he did. ---A-hole#2 Then my dog walked up to another dog to sniff him and the other dog bite my dog's ear. It bled a lot and I had to take him to the vet. Again, the owner who was sitting right next to his dog did not acknowledge it. --- A-hole #3. I did however, meet a lot of nice people but the good does not outweigh the bad. read more

My wife and I purchased a permit to bring our Schnoodle to the park back in May. I decided to do it after reading the reviews on Yelp. I would have to say that it is an OK experience, but I think we need to take a clearer look at things before we call it "heaven", or say that the owners that visit this place are able to control their dogs. I have seen some very nice people at the park and feel that 15% of them are friendly people who are looking to get their dogs a little fresh air and some exercise. The other 85% seem to be from the cast of the movie "Best In Show". Yes, there is an area for small dogs to run in, but I have seen a woman go in their with a large dog and run it around and not let anyone else go in because the dog does not do well with other dogs. My favorite was a man that has a small dog that enjoyed biting at and trying to pull down my 6 month old dog. It really was not funny except for the fact that the dog's name was BJ. Seeing an older man running around yelling "BJ, BJ, BJ", well, that was just precious. We have not been back since the end of July. read more

Wonderful place to take your dog and I highly recommend it if you don't want to deal with people who can't control their pooch. Check out this website http://www.cityofevanston.org/parks-recreation/parks/pooch-park/ if you're interested in purchasing a permit. You must get a permit to visit the park. It's $80 for non-resident and $40 for Evanston(or skokie) resident. read more

Great park! Lots of space...grassy area's, plenty of room to run!

I really love this place. It is a fenced park where you can let your dog run off-leash. My ten-month old cockapoo always have a blast everytime we come to the Pooch Park. And I honestly enjoy the park as much as she does, if not more. There are lots of friendly dogs and humans who frequent the park. There is this large area for bigger dogs, a smaller fenced area for puppies and smaller dogs, and a fenced agility course area. Sometimes, the dog owners leave the fences for the small dog and the agility course areas open so all dogs, big and small, play together. If one owner prefers the fence closed to keep his or her dog in, it is okay too. It all depends on the group of dogs present at any given time and how they play and interact with each other. The park has water and bowls available for the dogs and a shade with benches plus some more benches out in the sun for the humans. The place has bags and waste bins on different spots so you can pick-up after your dog/s although occasionally, you might see dog waste left behind (either from an owner who didn't clean up or an owner who didn't realize that their dog went potty) but this is not very often. Overall, this is a very well-maintained dog park. I agree with others who said that the entrance sign by Oakton St is not very visible as it is somewhat recessed from the main road. The sign first reads Thommas J. Dammrich Rowing Center (with quite a bit more information written below that) then at the bottom there is a sign hanging that reads Pooch Park. Update 09/30/12: I stopped coming to Pooch Park in Sept 2011 after one of my dogs had pulled something out from a mud hole and got diarrhea for 3 days. I vowed not to bring them back until the 2 big mud holes had been filled up. I started bringing them back in May 2012. The mud holes had been filled up, the area itself is still great, but so many people now do not pick-up after their dogs. Some are too busy chatting with other people and some sit on the same spot throughout their stay (even if their dog is on the other end of the park) that they don't notice when their dogs had relieved themselves. Even worse, some knowingly turn their heads away and put a blind eye to it. A few times, I had picked up after someone's dog as I pick after my own dogs. Once, I saw a woman just kept going around picking up all that she can see (probably didn't want her dog to keep stepping on them) but why does someone else has to do that for the irresponsible ones??? I started walking my dog in my own neigborhood instead and had taken them in another dog exercise area although Pooch Park is the closest one where I live. read more

I've been here quite a few times with my Rott, Bear. And it's always been hell trying to get him back into the car...he won't leave the park!!! It's really a great place to meet other people and see so many different types of breeds. They have ample room to play and you can always see so many interesting characters! read more

I like Pooch Park! Most of the owners are very responsible. The park could be maintained better for what they charge for a membership- there are often dips in the grass where water collects after the rain, which gets the dogs super dirty. Some people bring little children, which they are not supposed to do for obvious reasons. (Last week, I even saw a lady there with a newborn! EEK!) But in general, my dog and I are happy with this place! read more

I love this little park - we walked by and the space is phenomenal. I really want to get the non-resident permit so I can bring in my pup for some afternoon fun! read more

I've been here quite a few times now so I feel as if I can accurately review the place. The first thing I noticed about Pooch Park is that is it pretty small. I've been to several other dog parks in Illinois and they seem to be a lot bigger. There are 3 different sections which include a general area, agility area, and small dog area. Majority of the people there are very nice and keep a good eye on their dog. Of course there are days when you have people who don't but that is going to be the same anywhere you go. The grounds tend to get very muddy and there are times I leave and have to bathe my dog thoroughly afterwards. Other than that, they seem to be well maintained and people clean up after their dog for the most part. I like that they have some tennis balls for the dogs to play with if you forget your own. I will continue to bring my dog here because it is the only one in the area, but i definitely think there is room for improvement. read more

Great park . . . except when the snow is melting, or after a rain. Went Sat. evening and found myself ankle deep in mud. Needs some help with drainage - at least on the main path. read more

I'm saddened to say that I no longer look forward to heading out to Pooch Park. The space is really great, but the 'regulars' are those people who come to socialize, judge others, and be those people who help me lose faith in the kindness of others. On last visit there with one of my two pups - a very sweet, highly energetic, and wiggle dog - I was harrassed within minutes by another owner who #1 would not allow her dog to play with others (instead screamed at her each time she attempted to interact which clearly raised the level of anxiety of the dogs witnessing this screaming) #2 did not pick up her dog's poop, and #3 seemed annoyed in general that there were dogs coming close to her vicinity. For lack of a better term, she was a complete meanie. And she targeted my dog. I am the first to acknowledge when my dog is at fault (which she can be many times), but I am also the first to stand up for my 2 year old pup who was SO excited to be with friends. This woman - she ruined my day. She was a cold, mean, crochet-y middle aged woman without the common courtesies and manners that should be second nature to us all. And apparently she brings her dog to the dog park to practice screaming at her and denying her access to anything remotely good and fun. Unfortunately this is not the first poor experience I have had there. Again, it has never been the actual place, but the people. Other times it was simply the lack of people paying attention to their dogs - not cleaning up after them, or not realizing that their dog is trying to leave with another family. Or is rolling in a mud puddle. Or is repeatedly trying to hump other dogs. It's called 'Pooch' park, not coffee clutch park. It's a great place to meet and chat with other dog owners, and the bench area is strategically located so you can easily see almost all of the park so you can chat while being a responsible dog parent and keeping an eye on your dog. I'm tired of certain people ruining it for others, and for them being 'those people' who really make humans in general pale in comparison to the dogs around us (especially when in a dog park...). I think it may be worthwhile for it to be more closely patrolled, especially considering the fee required to have membership. And warnings for those owners who are not responsible OR who do not understand dog behavior and therefore antagonize their animal and others rather than allowing them to burn off some energy and socialize appropriately - maybe we all need to pass a class before being allowed to 'patrol' our pups at such a public locale. Regardless, I am hoping to find a new place for my pups to roam and enjoy the outdoors without being exposed to irresponsible humans. read more

This is a nice little park conveniently located at the border of Skokie and Evanston. It's much smaller than the big dog parks in Lake County but bigger than the tiny dog parks in the city. It definitely has enough room for dogs to run and play. The crowd is 80% regulars who come every day at the same time and all know each other. The other 20% are random visitors many of whom probably don't have a permit. There's a small dog area that often has more dogs than the rest of the park. There's also a separate agility area. Extra points for having many benches/tables and a covered/walled area in the middle for owners during rain/winter. Busy times are before and after work with some dead times throughout the day. It's lit until 10pm which is cool and I used to be part of the late night crowd. Most people are nice and it's a comfortable place. Like any dog park there's some dogs that probably shouldn't be there and my dog got bit once. You need a permit and randomly there's someone who comes and checks. read more

Pooch Park is fabulous!!! Very clean and the Skokie Park District takes great care of the park!! You can join our FB page Peoples Pooch Park. We have 2 dogs and when they hear the word park they go crazy!! Great happy place to escape from the everyday crazies!!! read more

I agree Pooch Park can be fun for your dog, however, it can be equally dangerous. I had signed my 2dogs for membership for 1year. In one years time, I have seen four owners and their dogs attacked. One woman had the skin completely pulled off her entire thumb from an aggressive dog. Unfortunitly, some dog owners do not take responsibility of their dogs aggressive behavior. Other owners just don't pay attention because thy're too busy taliking, texting, or socializing with other owners. I've also known of other owners complaining to the park multiple times of a particular problem owner/dog. It doesn't seem that anything was done to prevent re-entry of this particular person/dog. I'm not sure what standards Skokie enforces to ensure safety. Sad to say, I did not renew my dogs membership. My purpose for this review is just to warn potential members to be careful. Don't assume that because you pay a fee and that your dog fulfills the requirement for membership doesn't make this place any more safe or the people any more polite. read more

MY DOG GOT BIT!! The owners sit on computers, do not look at their dogs even when told that their dog is being too aggressive. Called the Park District and they said the man who is in charge is out of town... Filled out a comment form but haven't heard anything. read more