so it's five bucks to even get intothe park but then the dog park inside is another six dollars AND you need a fob to get in. bullshit

Too many irresponsible dog owners that think because their dog responds to its name the 5th time being called that they have good recall... I've had to tell multiple people to get their dogs away from mine because they can't control them or mind you even see where there at (they're either on the other side of the lake or too busy on their phones to manage their dogs). Last time I checked good recall should be as soon as you say your dogs name they come or stay next to you not the million times you have to yell it. I love this lake for my dog but the owners of other dogs there ruin it with their lack of control and arrogance. Not all dogs are expected to have play dates, "socialize", or hangout with their dogs there. My dog just wants to swim, play fetch, and be left alone by other dogs without them trying to assert their dominance over him. People are so entitled there and lazy. read more

This is the best dog park in the state. So much space for the dogs to run, play, explore, swim...seriously. This park has elevated my dog's ability to try just be a dog. read more

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We started visiting Soldan's Dog Park last summer (2022) and liked it a lot. We went back for the first time in 2023 last weekend and there were multiple improvements. More benches, more picnic tables, and some great landscaping. It's such a pleasant place to sit and watch your mutt play with all the other doggos. Well worth the cost of the season pass. read more

Initially, Soldan Dog Park was free. After about 3 years they started year memberships with access only to members. It is not costly but keeps out persons not there for dogs. It is safer now and all who go are good people because they are taking their precious free time to entertain their dog. I am surprised at reviews claiming the park is muddy. The property is on sand and only a little leaf mold on top. Rain filters right through. The wash station at the entrance cleans you dog right up. Some bring shampoo with them. However, the uninitiated need some guidance. There are rules that are often disobeyed but it is done more out of ignorance than malice. People don't read the rules and/or don't understand the reason behind them. Often parents come with children in strollers. The babies are in danger because the dogs play rough and are at the same eye level as the baby. Small children should not come because they can easily be knocked over as adults often are. This is a dog park, not a children's park. A pup must be up to date on vaccines including rabies so that means at least 4 months. Bigger, older dogs can traumatize a pup, so protect your dog. Sometimes, not everyone cleans up after his or her dog. We are encouraged to clean up orphan poops and I always do if I see one. Generally, the park is very clean. But, other than these few caveats, it is a beautiful 15 acres of woods and lake. It would be bigger except for a political ploy shutting off about 2 acres. The dogs have a blast. You need keep a watch on your dog and not allow playing too rough and when you don't like the chemistry, go to another area. Too many dogs playing can lead to a fight, so walk off. A water spray is a good way to break up too rough play or even the rare aggressive dog. I bring a tennis racket to lob balls and also keep some dogs separate. There are two useable beaches. There is what I call the playground, a large sandy area, and another woods with trails that the dogs love to explore. The dogs behave completely different when off leash. They quit barking, more obedient and generally better behaved. They are also bonded to their owners so require little control. Go. You will love it and your dog will be in heaven. Disney for dogs. A couple years ago there was an article in Bark magazine. Soldan Dog Park is rated as one of the best in the nation. read more

Hope when you go there's somebody actually working the dog park otherwise you're not allowed in. Unless of course you have a membership pass which cannot be purchased anywhere on the premises. And by the way you don't find any of that out until you're at the gate of the pet area and you have to call a number where nobody picks up. So then you called the park office and they don't even know what you're talking about until they rifled through all of their paperwork to tell you guys no one's working and they can't get you in. Doesn't seem like they really care to be open to pet owners which is the whole reason of building a dog park read more

As others have mentioned, the Huskies are indeed out of control and the owners don't care. When I asked them to pull their dog off mine (humping) a woman responded "if you can't run with the big dogs, get off the porch". I grabbed the Husky and pushed him off. He bared his teeth at me. I reported it. I regularly see a large group of Huskies with only two adults to manage them...impossible! There is a box to leave incident reports - and I fill them out each time that the Huskies are there. Forgive me for saying "the Huskies". I realize they are not all bad dogs and they may not all be Huskies but they are part of a Husky group with inconsiderate owners. It sure leaves Huskies with a bad name people. My 2 dogs love to go, but they have been injured by other dogs. One is a rowdy pit-mix that is very happy but harasses my shy dog and jumps on me - leaving scratches. The owner looked appalled when I grabbed his collar, pushed him to the ground and yelled NO, STAY OFF. The owner should be the one in control but I'm not afraid to. So, if you can handle aggressive and uncontrolled dogs, this is a nice place to let your dogs run. It is often muddy or icy (it's outdoors), and not everyone cleans up after their dogs. I try to pick up at least one extra poop every time I go, and I try to forget all the diseases going into that pond. One of my dogs got a bacterial skin infection after a minor dog bite (a wild and crazy Aussie) and then swimming, in late summer. Now, I bathe my dogs every time they swim there. For those who let others in without a key fob, and for those who enter without a key fob, please don't! I pay to ensure that my dog is around other dogs with vaccinations and dog licenses. It is not cheap. I can barely afford it for two dogs. But, I take that responsibility seriously. I wish you would too. I would never let anyone else in, and if they didn't like it - go buy your vaccines, license, and fob. read more

Stopped in while in town. It was easy to register at the front gate( need your dog's license #). Cost for a day pass was $8. Not horrible. You get assigned a key to unlock and get in the dog park. (Remember to return it on your way out of the park). Dog park goes around a lake and dogs can go in the water. The terrain was woodsy, sandy and muddy (around the water's edge). They do have a wash station right at the entrance/exit. Overall pretty pleased. Just ended up with a sandy/muddy, but with a happy and tired dog read more

I've been attacked by a dog. The red husky. One yellow pitbull and a red husky ran to my dog and bite my dog on neck, my dog start to screech, so I was trying to protect my dog. I hold him up on my shoulders, the husky start to climb on my, I was keep yelling no to him or her, but he or she didn't stop doing that. The owners of the red husky showed up after more than three minutes. My dog kept shaking for about few minutes, after I get out, I realize my belly was blooding badly. The scratches were all over my belly. I think the dog park is not for aggressive dogs like that. Be careful for your dogs. The dog park MUST check every single dog, I'm a girl and I cannot handle two big dogs ran to me and start attacking me. I was terrified badly. read more

Soldan Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

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Poorly designed. Not worth it. Don't sign up. I've been to free parks that were better.

The last time I was there the they had fenced off half the park, too many people had kids who were also screaming (scares some dogs, and again, the sign says no kids), and there was a group of ladies controlling their dogs with giant remote controls. They would zap their dogs, the dog would lash out at whatever happened to be close, which was my dog. Too many people don't keep track of their dogs, and I'm going to concur on Erich Z's comment that people have weird expectations there. That said, I used to live in Grand Rapids, where Shaggy Pines was like the dog park to beat all dog parks. But even the free one in the city was better than Soldan's. I'm just disappointed this is the only option. read more

I was so happy when they opened Soldan Dog Park last fall -- my pooch loves to play with other dogs, but we're just not prepared to add one to our family now. We try to take him there at least once a week, and he always has a great time. All of the other dogs we've met there have been friendly, as have the owners. I've met a lot of nice folks. Most people also do a really good job of cleaning up after their dogs. (I had been worried about that before my first visit!) The park used to be a big circle with the pond in the middle, but because of neighbors' complaints, one corner has been fenced off. You can't walk around the whole thing in a loop anymore but instead have to turn around and go back. Not a huge deal. Some notes: Your dog will need a current license to get in. They seem to check mostly on weekends. Since there is a pond in the park, bring towels, just in case your dog decides to go for a dip. (I never thought mine liked swimming ... found THAT out the hard way after I had to put a wet, muddy dog back in my car with no towels to clean him up with!) There's a vehicle entrance fee on the weekends, Labor Day through Memorial Day; it's $2 for Ingham County residents, $4 for everyone else. ( read more

I love Soldan, but my dog would give it 5 stars for sure. First off, she's a bit wild around other dogs, in that she loves to play chase and be chased. Sometimes she plays too eagerly with the smaller dogs, which we control, but the bigger dogs she just loves. The only problem I have at Soldan is when people get a little nuts. Either not controlling their dogs when they are aggressive, or thinking their dog is getting killed when it is clearly playing. You get both extremes. Most people are great, though. My advice is, know your dog's limits, and when it's too much or they are getting tired, go home. It's your responsibility to take care of your dog, not someone else's, so be a good owner. If you don't like when dogs chase and play rough, you may not want to go, as dogs will be dogs here. And please pick up after your dog poop. read more

Paid the $50 for parking and access for this park and can't even use it because every time we go there are reactive, aggressive dogs who don't leave my dog alone. Sometimes there are packs of several huskies who gang up on the other dogs. My poor dog was repeatedly humped by one of the huskies and was clearly terrified but the owner just laughed and refused to call the husky back so my dog could get away. Do not recommend. Honestly we've had more luck with the free dog park on Abbott. read more

Great dog park experience! Shout out to Kathy and Scott for being so sweet to explain the situation to me and for letting me go inside and walk around with them! The way this dog park works is as follows: - you pay an annual fee of $30 and you get a key that you must use to go in and out of the dog-park every time you go. - you pay $4 for a day pass and you get a temporary key for the day. I went on a somewhat murky, rainy Saturday and since I'm not from Michigan I didn't really know the low-down. Because it was rainy, the security guard that should have been at the park gate selling me a day pass was MIA so I went inside without the ability to actually get into the dog park. Luckily as I parked and got my little pups ready with their leashes, a couple and their dog were getting out of their car. We walked together and they explained that without a key I would not be able to access the doggie park (in or out since you also need the key to exit). They let me go in and walk around the park with them. - muddy trail around a large lake - some construction and lake fenced off - lots of trees now in bloom - might wanna wear your rainboots after a rainy/humid couple of days: lots of mud and sand. - nice long walk around lake though fenced off so that you can't walk fully around it; you get to a point where you have to turn around and go back (story is: neighbors complained about the barking so park enforcement cut the park off where residential homes begin). - be careful in winter! (Kathy told me several accounts where dogs and owners ended up in the freezing water) Lake is not fenced off for the most part so curious dogs might venture out into the water or the frozen ice in winter. - no separate section for small dogs. Everyone interacts in the same space. My 6lbs Maltese mutt was fine and got along with the larger-than-horses dogs that were stampeding through; but my 4lbs chihuahua freaked out when she saw a swarm of beasts headed in her direction so I had to pick her up for part of the walk. - friendly dog owners. Looks like a strong community. Great way to make new friends (in any city) is to walk your dogs at dog parks. Was it awesome? The experience for me was awesome because I made new friends, got a decent walk, and got to exercise my doggies and tire them out in a natural setting where they could roam free. But is it a super Amazing dog park? Not totally so! The fact that you have to pay and people can't just go who don't have an annual membership is kinda silly. Maybe this is one of the better (or only dog parks) in Lansing, but I have been to some really great pup-parks that don't charge a cent, and that make it possible for EVERYone to go. I don't mind paying. $4 is nothing (less than a cup of coffee these days), but if I decide I want to go, I need the consistency of knowing there will always be someone at the gate to let those of us without an annual pass, get a temp key to go inside. So my experience was a 4-5 star experience because I got lucky to meet a friendly couple that let me follow them around, but if there had been no-one I would have been assed out with my $4 in hand and no-one to let me inside. When compared to Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, or even the Silverlake dog park and reservoir in Los Angeles, or many of the other dog parks I've visited on my many travels across the US with my furry companions, this place falls flat. read more

Soldan Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

WOW! I'm so impressed! I've never SEEN a dog park like this. I went on a slower day because of the weather, but everyone I met seemed really nice and laid back. My dog played with every dog we met It's a beautiful wooded fenced in area and has a big lake in the middle that the dogs can go swimming in. We both had a riot! I recommend this to anyone who has a playful pup who needs to run off some energy :) read more

There are only two true dog parks in the Lansing area and Soldan's is the best, if for nothing else than its the only one. My older dog is a rescue and not socialized, so she was very timid around playful types while my puppy is, well, a puppy and loves to jump qnd chase. They both get their fill of fun. The only truly aggressive dog I ever met was a man who brought his pit bull mix into the park leashed. Some of the other owners prompted him to let the dog enjoy some freedom, to which he replied that his dog liked to fight and bite. This was back when the park was free. Now, there is a $30 ($20 for students) annual pass you must apply for in order to gain access to the park. It has curbed some of the less friendly dogs and owners who might have otherwise walked in. On top of the membership fee, you also have to pay a $3 (for Ingham county residents) or $5 parking fee, unless you enter through the Scott's Woods entrance which is free. The park can sometimes get flooded in rainy weather and, since the majority of the park is either dirt or sand, it can get muddy very quickly. Bring a towel, that's for sure. Reviewers are right about owners having expectations for the park. I have yet to encounter an aggressive dog, but I am also very careful and watch my pets closely. Some pet owners think because it's a free-roam dog park they can relax and ignore their pets which can be nerve-wracking. No matter how friendly a dog is, it can get tense and lash out around a crowd of 30 other dogs and people. Especially if it can't find it's owner. TL;DR It's a nice, fairly cheap park with a pond, sandy beaches, a dog washing station, drinking fountains and lots of room to run. However, it's the only water-inclusive park in the area so it's the best by default. read more

The dog park located in Hawk Island County Park is convenient for Lansing dog owners since I did a search &.. well... IT'S THE ONLY ONE! That aside, it's got sun-related hours (dawn to dusk), a HUGE area for dogs to run & play & a lake. Yes, a lake that is unfenced that dogs swim in. (Not my dog, since 1. we're from FL & that water is FREEZING, & 2. she's petrified of water.) The lake has several clearings where your pooch could dive in with other polar bear club dogs & I hear it's very popular on the weekends. Dog owners are such friendly people & I can say Coco (the dog) has already made several friends. Watch out for the "Quiet Section" of the park where you're not supposed to yell @ your dog but you're also supposed to 'control their barking.' A fellow dog owner advised me the neighbors complained of barking... they must not own dogs. I only have an issue with the fact that less than 10% of the park actually has grass! It's like a dust bowl & if you couple that with dogs in & out of the lake, it can get pretty messy. Wear sneakers unless you like black feet! read more

I am one of the original board members for Friends of Greater Lansing Dog Parks (FGLDP), and we worked very hard to get Lansing a nice area to have a dog park. We spent almost 3 years finding a place to create a park; holding fundraisers to raise money to have the pond water tested for safety, fencing, a water fountain (for humans & dogs) and signage (to inform patrons of upcoming events - which I notice is now gone), and surveying the neighborhood. Members of FGLDP volunteered hundreds of weekend hours cleaning up the area before it was designated Soldan's Dog Park. I moved away just before the dog park opened, and recently visited there Saturday (9/16/17) late afternoon. I found the park to be full of dead trees on the pathway, some crushing the outer fencing, and some crushing the inner fencing around the pond on the west side. I am broken hearted and appalled at what the dog park now looks like. I am of the understanding those trees have been there for about 5 years after a horrific storm came through Lansing. Why haven't the trees been cleared out? Why isn't the County asking for volunteers to come in and help cut up the trees, and straighten the fencing? Originally, the City of Lansing Parks & Rec was overseeing the dog park once FGLDP turned over the money to put up the fencing, but, I hear Ingham County Parks is overseeing the dog park now. Are the monies people paying to get into the park going towards the upkeep of the dog park, and not a general fund to upkeep on county parks? Has anyone thought about having a fundraiser to raise money to repair the fencing; or, ask some of the other pet stores in the area to donate monies to fix sections of the fence? I realize these questions are rhetorical, and won't be answered, but they are just my thoughts. There used to be a path to walk all the way around the pond; but, neighbors complained about the noise, so we closed it off, and even took down the fencing for the small dog area. We talked about building a bridge across the pond at the south end so you wouldn't have to double back to get out. The day the dog park officially opened, all board members of FGLDP were so proud to have been a part of this event we were beaming. I don't know how many of the board members use the park, or are even in the area any longer; but, I'm sure their faces are no longer beaming. read more

I once took my 2 labs to Joeys Pet Outfitters Park in Williamston, but they closed. Which is fine since they completely neglected all maintenance and attacking dogs the last 6 months. Soldans was a delightful experience. I paid $240.00 for 1 year at Joeys. Soldans is $30.00 and 100% nicer. It is well maintained, the people and dogs were friendly. Joeys actually sent out an email to it's park customer's stating they did not spend enough money in the store. I don't have that expectation at Soldans Dog Park! read more

Soldan Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

We're giving Soldans park a try. It looks wonderful and having reasons and water (for humans as well as dogs ( is a huge plus!

We are happy to say that we had a great experience at Soldans dog park. We were members a of park in Williamston(Joey's), They closed on very short notice. We are so glad we took the chance to come here, we had heard things about this park that were not good....It was great, we met nice people and some very happy dogs, our dogs had a great time. The park is a more wooded park with a fairly long walk to the back where the lake is accessible and very nice..The price is great also, Joey's was over 200.00 a year for two dogs and Soldans is 30.00 for the dog park and 30.00 the county park pass which lets you into all Ingham county parks... read more

Soldan Dog Park - She was very tired after her day at the park. - Dog Parks Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

I have no idea what the lady below is talking about having no access to the pond. I was there today and have been going almost daily for the past year. There are two beaches. Everyone does a really good job cleaning up after their pets as there are poo bags located at stations throughout the park. I wish they had a small dog area too so those of us with big dogs wouldnt have to worry about stomping one while theyre running around playing. read more

I can't go back there again. A few of the dogs were nice and well behaved, but there were lots that WEREN'T. They approached with a hard stare and hackles raised while their owners laughed and ignored them. I actually saw a pair of dogs fight, and neither owner even noticed. They laughed and one said 'ooh, she'd playing rough'. They split up cheerfully, (their dogs still snarling) and I saw that there was blood all over the snow, a droplet trail leading back towards the entrance. I have a four-month old German Shepherd puppy, and I am both afraid for her and afraid she'll learn dangerous habits from fearful and aggressive dogs. Bad place. Don't go. Especially not with a little dog. read more

i am so disappointed. this was a great park for awhile. they promised to fence off a nice portion for little dogs so the big dogs wouldnt hurt them, but it didnt happen. people with big dogs dont clean up their dog's waste. i've yet to figure out the new system for even getting in and out of it. wish they could update this park. it is soooo needed in this area. read more