I like to watch the dogs running, playing and fighting (sometimes humping) when I walk by. But then I smell the overwhelming stench of dog urine and break into a full sprint. Which, for me is about 2.5 mph. read more

This place does suck. It smells too. Don't get me started on the sucky people who bring their dogs here to ignore. Read my other reviews and you will find I am a pretty happy person who likes to give the benefit of the doubt here and there - However, my discontent for this place and the owners that like to frequent it runs so deep that if I write any more I will likely get banned off Yelp for offensive language. It's a shame too the place is in a nice spot. Stupid people ruin everything. read more

I'll keep it simple. It's a dog park. There are no bells and whistles, I didn't see any "snobs" although I did encounter a few people who shouldn't own dogs...based on comments they made to me about their breed...and what not. I have an inviting face, when the owner of another pug asks me "when they get less hyper" I get scared. That cute dog is so going to end up in a shelter I could tell her and her SO were not happy w/it's "pugnacious" nature. I had to use it. come on! Also, this same person told me the dog once got out from Wiggly Field, good thing when he ot away today I saved him as she and her SO were oblivious. THAT was annoying, but does not reflect the score of this place. I do want to say though if you're like that idiot why even have a dog. Research your breed, understand the positives and negatives, and lastly, hang out w/the dog breed a bit to see how it goes w/your personality. I know you can't try the dog and then buy it later, but typically if you don't like certain things, like certain dog traits you shouldn't get the dog. There are a lot of breeds for a reason. /end soapbox. Now why I did give it a three: I gave it a 3 because the fun looking obstacle course was closed off...my dog would have enjoyed that and there was no reason for it to be closed off. Another reason I gave it a 3 is because there was a fair amount of trash. Not dog poop. Human trash, Starbucks cups and what not. There is plenty of trash cans, jeez A LOT of trash cans, I felt that was rude, really rude. Otherwise, we'd come back, easy street parking (permit needed after 6pm FYI) BUT I will check other parks out before trying this one again. read more

Worst dog park in the city. Small. Dirty. No where to run. Not to mention that most of the people here are unfriendly. We have learned to park our car several blocks away, as we saw that if you are seen getting out of a car, the apparent "locals" give you dirty looks, as if this CHICAGO dog park is only for snooty Lincoln Park dogs. Give me Puptown any day. That's where our dog has more fun, and we do too. read more

I'm not hatin' on the Lincoln Park/Lakeview dog parks and beaches, I swear. It's just... the fenced in (I'm sorry, official) ones suck. Wiggly Field has some things going for it: I've found plenty of friendly people and dogs here, and I like that there's space for the dogs to run around. It's been pretty clean the times I've come here, and I like that there's a double gate so there's no risk of a dog slipping out. But it's hard to make up for the closed off agility area that's not usable and the lack of any real space for the dogs to run around. Plus, it's so close to the El tracks that my dog positively shakes when a train comes by. read more

Wiggly Field is fine. Dog owners who take their dog to any park should learn the rules of dog play and stop stressing when a dog growls, yelps, or gets humped. Most socialized dogs can figure out most of those social dynamics and there is a big difference between agression and playful bites. Anyway, the asphalt not the best material, but it beats the dust/dirt my dog's fur picks up at Hamlin Dog Park from the gravel. It's also a little bigger than Churchill and the one in Wicker Park (I think). Most dog owners are nice here, the el doesn't seem to bother the dogs, and there are almost always poop bags. There's also a small wading pool in use on warmer days. It loses some stars for the agility area that's nothing but an eye-sore and the perpetual pee smell. It's not by any means perfect, but it does the job. read more

I too am surprised by the negative reviews. Perhaps it is because this was my 1st dog park experience after adopting our new addition, but we had fun. I found this park to be full of friendly dogs and dog owners. It was very clean and seems to be set up to keep your 4-legged friend entertained. We went on a VERY hot day and it was great to sit back and see our American Bulldog, Missy, hanging out by the kiddie pools to play with the other pups. Additionally, it was great to chat with the dog owners while relaxing on the bench. Everyone was so friendly including the adorable poodle who wasn't afraid of strangers and decided he wanted to come sit on my lap. If your dog is social and loves to be around other dogs and people, you should bring him/her and check it out for yourself. read more

Wiggly Field is a good enough place to give your dog some exercise and an opportunity to socialize. It's all concrete/pavement- which does some damage to my Australian Shepherd's paws, but he doesn't seem to mind it. Sure, the place smells a bit like a dog's version of a litter box, but... dogs DO go to the bathroom there. Don't expect it to smell like roses. People generally pick up their dogs' waste, and the place is maintained well enough. None of the dogs ever seem to mind the L whizzing by right next to the park, but it is a little jarring. Like any off-leash dog area, seriously re-consider bringing your dog if he/she is: anti-social a puppy small This is for his/her safety and the safety of the other dogs running around. Just use common sense. read more

We've been here a handful of times and I've decided I don't like this dog park. 1.) It's all cement and rocks. 2.) It's right by the train tracks so every 3-5 minutes, the incredibly loud rumble of it zooms by. I've noticed it makes many dogs uneasy. 3.) There's always way too many dogs there since there's no other options close by so that means there's always alphas and their owners that don't pay attention. Really wish there was an alternative to this park that had grass or woodchips, not directly next to a train, and more space so the dogs can actually run and play without immediately being confronted by an asshole dog. read more

Today was the first morning me and my 6 month old German Shepherd have been to Wiggly Field. I have to say I was thoroughly impressed. They have running water for the dogs, doggie bags, a mini pool for them to cool off in, a time out area away from other dogs, and even an area for dogs to run on an agility course. That asphalt surface is kind of a bummer, but you have to take into account the work that would be required for the upkeep. Also maybe tiny dogs should avoid it, but besides that I will be visiting as much as possible. Great place to let your dog blow off some steam and meet some great friends!! read more

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I have cravings to pet doggies when I travel so I hope it was okay that I went into Wiggly Field and pet your dogs. I think this park is rather simple but I'm still a fan of it. Plenty of space, lots of trees to sniff, little kiddie pools to play in, scoop-up bags, and a few trash cans to put said bags in. It'll do the trick, and it's a pretty cool place for all the doggies to go play in this neighborhood! All of them were playing with each other and having a grand old time. The train tracks are a little loud, but I don't think you'd find another place to let your dog run around in this neighborhood. Overall, a great place. I'd take my doggie here if I lived in Lincoln Park :) read more

I agree with most of the negative reviews of Wiggly Field. Its dirty, dirty, dirty, smelly and nasty. The undulating pavement causes huges pools of water to gather and become stagnant nastiness. The dog owners are 50/50 just like most dog owners. So any negative generalizations of the Wiggly dog owners can be applied to most places. We like Puptown much much more. There does seem to be the stereotypical Lincoln Park snobbery and trixiness at Wiggly. Puptown is much more laid back and more about the dog's socialization than the owner's. Check out Puptown! read more

Still a huge fan! We took our pooch back there today and we had a lot of fun. I didn't know there were so many pooches and owners there on an early Sunday morning! There was a ton of dogs just playing and hanging out, so our pooch had a lot of fun. I LOVE that this park has a nice mix between concrete, gravel and grass. There's a variety of terrain to keep the dogs entertained. There's also a dog run on the south side of the park in case you want to have some alone time with your dog to play fetch and there's an agility course so you can practice some sweet trick moves with your friend. There's also a huge water station for the dogs so they don't get parched or dehydrated! We had a lot of fun this morning. I noticed, though, that a lot of the owners were clique-ish, which is probably just because they are there very often and recognize each other. It sort of made us 'outsiders' feel a little weird, though, but I'm sure it wasn't deliberate. Also, there's still some owners who don't realize that the way dogs play is different than the way kids play. When they bite and jump and roll around, they're just playing! As long as their tail isn't in between their legs or they're showing their teeth, they're having a good time. There were some owners that were shooing other dogs away from their own because they didn't like the "aggression" that other dogs were showing. I'm not sure they realize what real dog aggression looks like. I have to say, too, that there was one dog there who would not take this crazy tennis ball out of its mouth. It obviously wanted nothing to do with the other dogs in the park, so every time another dog just approached it (not even sniffed or touched) the dog started growling and snarling like it was protecting its territory or ball or something. Her owner thought the other dogs were being aggressive when they were trying to play; however, she obviously didn't realize that that kind of growling and protection is really a bad aggressive behavior in dogs. I'm sure owners like this come to all of the parks but they're pretty annoying to encounter. Still, this is the best park we have been to so far. Our dog has had the most fun here and it's the largest space for all the pooches to run around and have a good time. We'll see if this gets the coveted five star rating after we've visited all of the city's dog friendly areas. read more

I don't really think its a five but I need to get the ratings up from the retarded Yorkie/princess dog owners who have only had their dog out side to piss and think "hum we should go to the dog park. Come on Snickers my socially inept Palmy to wiggly we go...hehe Wiggly field we shall frolic. I can't go through a whole pet clinic with you on here, but please one lesson if Twinkle has never seen another dog other than in passing on the street: You both are in way over you're head. If your dog gets bum rushed and thrown down by three big dogs $1000 says your dog started it. Read a dog book (not at the park) about behavior. I"m not sorry if Rachel (2 year old boxer) knocks your dog around because its out of line. Hell I even kind of enjoy it. After I'm always happy to help you out with some tips, but if you stink eye me I'm going to laugh heartily when the next dog kicks your dogs ass again before you leave to the smiles of all the good dog owners. As for the smell its a dog park!! Now for my favorite part about this park. The little shit dogs owners never do return...ya!!!! read more

It's a dog park so there will be poo. This is pretty good as far as the dog park standard goes. There is occasionally the new owner who does not know how to handle their dog but that doesn't occur often. This park is for NON-AGGRESSIVE dogs. If your dog fits that bill, I am sure they will have a good time. You might too. :) read more

I looooove Wiggly Field! And so does our puppy. He was only 3 months when we first brought him. He is now 1 year (this saturday!!) and we haven't been able to walk there for a couple months now due to some surgery he had, BUT i know he is going to be thrilled when he gets to go back. When the park comes into his sight, he drags us to the gate. He loves the new buddies he meets every time he goes and so do we! We always meet the nicest people there and the nicest dogs. We have witnessed a couple dog fights but but the owners are always there right away to stop it. It also has a "time out area" and doubles as a "puppy area" where people can just socialize their puppies if they are too small to play with the big dogs. It has an agility course attached as well if your dog is into that. At first I thought this park was small but after seeing some of the other dog parks in the area, this one is HUGE! **A friend brought his pitbull mix puppy to this park over the weekend to play with the other dogs, and wont go back. The people there were mean to him and Mia and were making comments to him about Mia being a pitbull, even though she is the sweetest dog anyone could ask for, so to those of you with the sweet dogs that others are afraid of, beware the assholes. Although I'm sure you've already experienced them.** read more

I haven't been to any other dog parks before, but I'd say this one has everything your furry friend needs to have a good time in the city. It's pretty spacious for a fast zoom from end to end. The dogs who come, and their owners, are very friendly and respectful. There is water, poop bags, and garbage cans available, but despite everyone's best efforts, there are sometimes poopoos on the ground where owners perhaps didn't notice. A nuisance about this place is that it's right underneath the El tracks, and with the red line coming very often, it can be quite noisy. read more

While the girls and I do enjoy Puptown a little bit more, this park is closer to our house and runs a close second. I have been trying to bring my dogs here more often now that it's warming up and they seem to have a nice time every time. Being in the city, there isn't much room to place off-leash dog park, but I think for the location, this park is a nice size. Personally, my dogs don't need to run around on grass and this park serves them well. They are able to run around a little bit, socialize and get some energy out. And on a personal note, I love to see what other kinds of dogs are there and talk to the other owners. read more

Great off-leash park. Make sure you have your off-leash tag! It's $5 and you can get it at your vet or pet store. It's a $250 fine, so well worth it. All you need is your rabbi vaccination info and city of Chicago license and you get it on the spot. read more

Never in my life have I yelled at another human being who was not my boyfriend or a member of my immediate family - that is until I came to wiggly field. Lest you think I am one of the over-protective small dog owners, I am not. I own a 70lb dog who, while submissive, can fend for himself and plays nicely with other dogs. The problem, as others have said, is the owners. It's not just that they ignore their dogs (because they do) - it's that they are ignorant of what dog behavior actually looks like. When dogs play they run, jump, wrestle and yes use their mouths. However there is a big difference between two dogs playing and one dog trying to dominate another dog. Playing leads to more playing. Dominance leads to a dog fight. The last time I was there, my dog was cornered by three dogs who took turns growling at him, humping him, and biting at his neck. When he tried to move, they followed and cornered him again. And again. THIS IS NOT PLAYING. THIS IS DOMINANCE. And what did their owners do? They just stood there, ignoring the dogs and occasionally praising them. Yes, praising them. I finally shouted at them to please (I said please) call off their dogs because they were scaring my dog, who, once these dogs were removed, promptly hid under a bench. Now who was I? I was a b**ch. One actually told me I shouldn't bring my dog to a dog park if I didn't want him to play with other dogs. She stated that was how dogs played, and "clearly" my dog was "enjoying it." Mind you, as I pointed out, my dog was still hiding under said bench. I'm not saying that I behaved well in this situation - I did yell at these women and I was rude to them. I was only trying to look after my dog and prevent a dog fight. There are good owners and good dogs at this park, but they are a minority. Most of the owners cannot control their dogs - I have rarely seen a dog there who actually came when their owner called it. I take my dog to the park because I don't have a yard, and I want to play with my dog, not to exercise him or expect other dogs to entertain him for me. However, this idea seems lost on most dog owners at this park. If you looking for a place to actually play with your dog, check out the dog beach at Montrose. read more

Fantastic. Good dogs everywhere. All beautiful, kind, fun-loving puppers. Excellent name. So fun. 10/10 dog park + dogs. Would definitely patronize this dog park again read more

It's great that we have places like this in the city where we can take our dogs to runaround in an enclosed space. However, it can be a little hit or miss in terms of other owners who don't pay attention to their pets who are known to be rough. That said, as long as you are attentive your pet should have a good time running around with other dogs and with luck, will completely tire him or herself out... read more

Boo. Not a fan. My dog got blisters on her paws because it's asphalt. It's on the El too, doesn't bother my dog but bothers my ears...

They recently expanded the main park area but removing the 'trick' area and paving over it. They made a few other changes including planting trees..all in all the changes are really nice and gave the park the extra space it needed! read more

Jason B - It sounds like you just don't like dog parks, period. Guess what? Dogs bark, drool, hump and poop. They're dogs. It is your responsibility to bring your own damn cleanup bags to the park. As for whining about other dogs chasing the toy you brought... what did you think was going to happen? Bringing toys to the dog park is a stupid idea and a GREAT way to start a fight - try being a little bit responsible. read more

Great community at the Dog Park, fun place for my dog. See a video I did in Wiggly Park. http://www.chicagodogpads.com/wiggly-field-chicago-dog-park/ read more

Well, as a frequent user and probable member of one of the cliques referred to in some of the previous posts, let me go on record and say that any dog park is only going to be as good as its worst users. Wiggly does seem to have a lot of checked-out, brain-dead, oblivious dog owners, people who don't monitor what their dogs are doing - fighting, pooping, barfing, people who can't seem to understand the concept of why each exit has TWO gates and so mindlessly leave an open chute to the car-bearing streets outside, people who are more concerned with talking on their cells or reading the paper than managing their pets, and people who don't get why it's a bad idea to throw a lit cigarette stub on the ground where there are dozens of shoeless creatures running about. If you fall into any of the categories above - please find another park, or better yet - get a house in the suburbs with a yard where you can keep the rest of safe from you. That said, there are also some great, involved dog owners who understand the difference between dog playing and dog aggression, who don't rely on a single visit per week to fully exercise their dog and who actually take an ownership in the park, its cleanliness and how it operates, picking up after the irresponsible others, throwing their elbow grease into shoveling snow, power-washing occasionally, investing their time and maybe their dollars into ensuring the park is a good safe place for their furry loved ones. Thank god. Now if we could just tilt the balance to the latter... read more

It's pretty smelly and gross. I have tried a few times to bring my small dogs here and they hate it. They may be a bit snobby but it is mostly really big dogs. I so wish they had more natural (i.e. unpaved) spots and maybe it was parceled off...half for big dogs, half for small. I'm nervous as I know some big dogs have gotten a bit too aggressive with small pooches. If they re-did park, I wouldn't mind paying a small fee to enter if I was assured my dogs would be safe. Overall, I don't recommend if you have a small dog and certainly do not bring a puppy here. read more

I have taken my dog Toby to many dog parks and Wiggly always gets a thumbs up by me. There are many owners who take pride in the dog park and clean and you notice it. There are poop bags, benches, water for the dogs, and the people are pretty cool. I have been taking my dog here for years! My boyfriend's dog Freckles loves when we take him here because he is able to run around and have room to run in a fenced in area. If your dog gets overwhelmed with many dogs.. I would either take him to the time out or come during the slower times. read more

I have many fond memories of this urban dog park particularly when I look back on the days with my first dog. This park used to be just walking blocks away and I would bring her here every day to get her socialized with other dogs. A lot of the dog owners were cool and had the same mentality in dealing with dogs. As a new dog owner, I even picked up a few tips on how to raise a puppy and all of the specialized stores and vets that I could go to when problems were presented. Every now and then, more than often, I would see idiots who would bring their rat sized dogs but would get mad if a bigger dog tried to rough house it. News flash: If you're dog isn't socialized or trained, why don't you do something about it instead of getting mad when other dogs are just being normal?! Ugh, I hate when people with maniac dogs who can't act in public put the blame on dogs who are only trying to play with them but turn into a drama scene. Anyways.... Wiggly Field has a time out zone if you're dog happens to get out of control. Don't be shy to use it. The agility course is shamefully never opened to take advantage of. What a waste of space. Draining situation isn't at its best and you'll know what I'm talking about if you go there on a rainy day. The one good thing about Wiggly Field is the space. It's not the biggest but bigger than all of the urban dog parks that I've been to in Chicago. I've been to an incredible efficient dog park in Long Island, NY one year. I think that every dog park should adopt a system that they have which is that they have a specific section for small dogs under 25 lbs so that owners don't have to get mad when their chihuahua gets run over by a bigger dog. P.S. This isn't a place for small children. Your child will more than likely get run over. Just sayin'.... read more

Overall, this dog park gets the job done. Most of the time, its the perfect amount of crowded, and for the most part, everyone keeps their dogs under control. It gets too crowded during the times you would expect the park to be the busiest (early morning and after work) so don't take your dog here if he can't keep up with the big ones. Also, expect your dog to get mounted! People aren't very good at taming their dogs at wiggly field during the busy play times (even though there is a time out area that rarely gets used). There are always baggies supplied to clean up after your pet which is nice, and there are two doggy pools which are always filled with clean water. Overall, a good place to let you pooch run free. read more

I wouldn't go here unless my dogs liked it - and they do. Although there is no grass, there is a lot of space (considering it's location). My favorite time to go is when NO ONE else is there. The dog owner's here do not let dogs be dogs. Dogs are pack animals. Dogs play fight, play tease. Normal dog behavior is seen as aggressive for no reason. Owners aren't passive about aggresive dogs. Fighting is normal in the animal kingdom - especially when, most of the time, THEIR TAILS ARE WAGGING. These people are all pretentious and amateur dog owners. There's this guy there too that is condescending to almost everyone. As the wannabe "Mayor" of the park, he has, on two occasions, informed me that I must "lock" one of the exit/entrance gates. Really, sir? No shit. He saw that I was leashing my dogs, but to be Mr. Mayor, it was his self proclaimed duty to demean me in public while martyring himself and picking up random dog poop from around the park. I understand that someone must pick up the remains that other owner's have forgotten, but his "good deeds" are smothered with arogance. All in all, the park is decent for the animals, it's just the owners that are pretentious and freak out for no reason. If you don't want your dog to interact with other dogs, don't bring them here. read more

I used to be somewhat of a fan of Wiggly Field. However, I've recently experienced other dog parks and think that I will never go back to Wiggley. I have a Boston Terrier. We went to Wiggley yesterday. Some how my pup slipped through a crack in the gate and got loose. My friend and I had to chase him up Diversey into a near by parking lot. Thank god he didn't get hit by a car. Although they have two gates that dogs must get through to enter the park, they need something inbetween to prevent this. Also, everywhere I walked there was poop. This didn't seem like a problem at the other parks I went to. If you are looking for a more relaxed dog park, try Hamlin Park. read more

I think this dog park is as good as any other dog park. I don't understand some of the comments. Dogs hump each other at WP, they also drool, fight, chase after people's personal toys, and jump on people. It's just what dogs do at every park! I lived in wicker park for a year and went a few times every week....I didn't notice a difference between the two parks except that WP is smaller. It is also asphalt and it rarely had bags, which wiggley field has always had when I'm there. Then again, as a dog owner, shouldn't you be carrying bags with you all the time anyway?? So anyway, perhaps there are bigger dogs here or more aggressive dogs, but for the most part my pup enjoys it. She chases after one of the many tennis balls lying around, says hi to other dogs and generally runs around burning off energy. There is also a seperate fenced area for dogs that are not very social - they can still run but won't be tempted to fight. There is also a second fenced area that is an agility course - that could be fun in the summer! As for being well kept - there does seem to be a bit of a turd problem, which sucks because my dog tries to eat those tasty bits, but as someone else suggested - just pick it up and it's no biggie. Also, one saturday when I was there, someone (not sure if it was a city worker or a volunteer) was there breaking up the ice - awesome becuase it was sooo slippery in there. Bottom line: it's a dog park, things happen that happen at every dog park. Just keep your eye on your dog and try not to worry too much. Your dog will play w/ others (socializing is good) and burn some energy! read more

My pup loved this place. Lots of space, levels for jumping and balls for catching. I appreciated having the option of going into the "time out" space: a little run separated from the park for puppies or dogs that next a second to compose themselves. The agility area is closed unfortunately, but I understand they don't want inexperienced owners or dogs hurting themselves on it. Definitely worth a trip. If you go before 6pm (before the permit # time kicks in), it's easy to find street parking. read more

Glad I took my Raggle here because she had a blast. There were a decent mix of sizes and breeds of 6 dogs, my girl being right in the middle so I felt less nervous letting her off the leash. She doesn't have a perfect recall but I had no trouble catching her attention as she raced around the park. There were instances I got concerned of rough play because her tail was down when she was being chased but the other owners were mindful to distract the group before it got out of control. A few benches and stone tables and chairs offered a place for two leggers to sit. Be prepared to get jumped on if you have treats out and no excuses for letting your pup be a pavement pooper. The park was clean and well maintained. The owners were polite, friendly without appearing clique-ish. read more

Wiggly Field - Dog Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't get why Wiggly has so many haters. It's fenced and double-gated, it's as clean as you can reasonably expect a dog park to be with baggies on every tree for poop pickup and there are two kiddie pools for the dogs to cool off in. The only negative experiences I've had here are due to some of the dog owners, not the park itself. The only improvement that needs to be made is regarding the obstacle course- it is in total disrepair and it is basically an eyesore. read more

This place stinks in more ways that just physically speaking. Yeah, my min pin is little, but don't tell me I shouldn't bring a rat to a dog park. It is not funny your dog picked up my dog and tried to shake him. Alas the day owners though a bit odd are definitely better than the after work crowd who don't seem too interested in their dogs. read more

I like Wiggly Field, for the most part. There is usually a good crowd of dogs there, mainly bigger dogs but its no big deal, dogs will be dogs. Lots of poop bag dispensers, turtle pools full of water in the summer, and water bowls so fido can catch a drink between running around like crazy. I wish the agility area would be re-done, or the park extended into the agility area and get rid of all the rotting metal because its been a waste of space for quite some time. My only complaint is owners and their irresponsibility. Pick up after your dog, and WATCH your dog. Dogs will be dogs and play, but if there's some aggressive behavior you don't have to leave, just put your dog in the time out area to chill out until they can behave again. And if your dog can't behave, then don't bring it because your ruining everyone else's experience. Just sayin. read more

The park is great. We have a puppy, and there is always a playmate for her. We also love that there are big and small dogs there--perfect for our growing pup. We've met a lot of really great pet owners too. Some owners don't watch their dogs at all which is concerning but other than that it's a fun time! read more