A Roundup of New Orleans' Dog Parks

New Orleans is a great city to be in if you're a pet parent to a dog. It's green all year long and there are a number of great places to walk, run, and explore. That last one is really key to a canine - explore. We all know there's nothing dogs like to do more than get out of the house and investigate. Fortunately there are now a growing number of officially sanctioned places in New Orleans where our four-legged BFFs can explore to their heart's content off-leash.

City Bark Off-Leash Dog Park

Over the past two years we've been taking you virtually to the area's off-leash dog parks. After hurricane Katrina, there was an ambitious plan by city officials to create as many as twenty parks across town; that plan was reduced significantly, but so far only a few have been realized. Of the four Orleans parks we visited, only three were city projects.

Earlier this year Nola.com reported a series of meetings had taken place between NORDC officials and residents in the French Quarter and Irish Channel about developing dog runs in those areas. While a dog run isn't quite a dog park - a park requires an area of at least one acre, having a place in one's own neighborhood to let Rover romp freely, is still highly beneficial - to all residents.

When we started posting about Nola's dog parks, it was with the intent to start with the smaller parks/runs, work our way up to the largest, and then subsequently compare and contrast the features of each. While there are a a handful of other dog parks in the area besides the ones we've covered, they are not in Orleans Parish and therefore out of Petit Pet Care's service area.

Crescent Park Dog Run in Bywater

One concern when taking your animal to the dog park is the size and behavior of other dogs. Even if large breed dogs are friendly they can still intimidate, antagonize, or even injure a smaller breed dog while off-leash. Of course it's helpful if a dog park has a separate area for large and small dogs. One of the advantages of Little Paws, the small, private citizen developed, neighborhood "park" in the upper ninth ward, is that it is only intended for use by small dogs. This advantage doesn't mean anything, however, if you live completely on the other side of town.

Unfortunately, neither the run at Wisner uptown or the one at Crescent Park downtown have a separate area for small dogs. Hopefully this is something that can be addressed as more parks/runs are added across town. Both have rules posted for the runs, but seem to work on an honor system, whereas the key-card-access-only City Bark is diligent in being sure all park rules are observed.

Though located in a very nice, well landscaped, 1.4 mile space, the fenced dog run at Crescent Park only has a couple of benches and no real shade. Also, the run is at one end of the park and the public restrooms are at the other. Woops. It does have bike paths though, an advantage for those who ride with their dogs running alongside them. All the parks offer complimentary pet waste bags and at least one drinking fountain, however Wisner does not have restrooms.

Little Paws small dog park.

It's almost unfair to compare the smaller parks/runs with City Bark, which has plenty of space and lots of trees, as well as shade pavilions. To put it in perspective, a minimum of one acre is required to qualify as a dog park vs a dog run. The fee-based City Bark is almost five acres, naturally it has the best amenities.

Remember that ambitious city plan that had to be scaled back? While the planners' collective eyes may have been larger than the budget, there is also another problem - available land. It seems to make sense to continue adapting existing park/playground spaces to accommodate dogs - on and off-leash. However, every time there's a meeting to discuss giving citizens what they want, the park/run plans are met with opposition.

If you search online for dog parks in New Orleans many web sites list at least five facilities; not all of these are actually in Orleans parish. Some of them, like Markey Park in the Bywater and the levee uptown near audubon were utilized by dog owners, but were never actually sanctioned as off-leash parks. According to Yelp reviews, off-leash dogs are no longer allowed at Markey Park or Cabrini Park in the French Quarter. The reality of the situation is that they never legally were.

The Dog Run at Wisner Park

"The Dog Levee" uptown is not only not a sanctioned off-leash dog park, but it is neither a public park, or an off-leash area for dogs. The city's ordinance clearly states that all dogs must be on a leash at all times unless they are in a fenced off area. That includes dogs at home or walking through their own neighborhoods.

Why is that important? The controversy over dogs parks has escalated to the point of a security detail being hired to enforce the rules at Cabrini park. Rules that residents complain aren't being followed at other facilities across town, which is the main objection to adding dog areas to existing parks.

With only three true "officially sanctioned" off-leash facilities for dogs, the presence or absence of amenities isn't really the issue. The planning commission did vote last year to add a run to Cabrini Park, and they are working on adding an area to Annunciation Park. Until funds are raised for the former and objections are settled for the latter, residents will have to continue to make do with only three public places in Orleans Parish for dogs to safely and legally be off-leash.

So which of the existing three parks/runs is best for you and your BFF? City Bark has the most amenities, hands down. Of course, it requires purchase of a permit, and depending on where you live it may not be the most conveniently located.


Another perspective:

Guide to Dog Parks and Runs in the New Orleans Area


Previous dog park posts:

A Glimpse at the Dog Run at Wisner Playground

NOLA Dog Parks Part 2: The Crescent Park Dog Run

Exploring the Upper 9: A Visit to Little Paws Dog Park

Frolic Under the Oaks: New Orleans City Bark

Frolic Under the Oaks: New Orleans City Bark

Continuing with our spotlight on New Orleans' dog parks, this month we're taking you on a visit to Nola's largest dedicated, off-leash, canine space, City Bark.

Modern dog culture is steadily transforming the way people live with their animals, and New Orleans is no exception. Over the last decade, the city has seen a significant rise in dog accessible venues, and when it comes to dog parks, City Bark is top notch.

Prior to hurricane Katrina, there were a number of unofficial spaces that people were using to exercise their animals off-leash, but only a few of these were actually fenced in, and many lacked any type of significant amenities. In addition, the use of these unofficial spaces was often a source of tension for surrounding neighborhoods.

Seven years after the storm, city officials made a commitment to create several new dog parks and runs throughout the area. That plan was scaled back to half, however, and only a fraction have actually been realized, the first being the Wisner Dog Run uptown on Laurel Street, which we featured on the blog in November of 2015, and the second being The Crescent Dog Run in Bywater/Marigny, which we told you about this past summer.

Fast forward to 2017, and the city now boasts four sanctioned off-leash dog parks (with number four being Little Paws downtown, which we posted about on the blog this past November), with hopefully a few more on the way.

New Orleans is a gorgeous city with plenty of green spaces, and as parks go, City Park - the home of City Bark - is as lush as they come. Sitting on a 4.6 acre plot of land just off Zachary Taylor Drive on the Marconi side of the park, City Bark first opened it's gates in 2010. Since then, it's been voted the favorite dog park in the city (though to be fair, there isn't much competition), and upon visiting it's easy to see why.

Unlike the city's three other existing dog parks/runs, however, entrance to City Bark requires a keycard. This security measure limits who can enter the park at any given time, as in order to obtain a card, you must first purchase an annual permit from the office in order to use the facility, and in order to obtain a permit, your dog(s) must be properly vaccinated as well as spayed/neutered.

While the permits are good for a full year, keep in mind that it's a fiscal year with a calendar end date of March 1. If you'd like to check out City Bark with your fur baby and are not sure you want to spend the $48 on the permit  ($53 for two or three dogs), you can get a temporary two-week pass for $15.

Hours for permit registration and pick up are 8 am through 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. The office is located at 1 Palm Drive in the City Park administration building, which is just across the 610 expressway from the dog park (near Tad Gormley Stadium).

Signage stating dog park rules is clearly posted on both the front and side gates, as well as park etiquette and operating hours. It's a good idea to read City Bark's Safety Information page before visiting the park for the first time, as it has some great tips such as the best way to enter the park and what to do if other dogs are near the entry gates. It might also be prudent to have the dog park coordinator's telephone number handy (504-483-9377) in case of an incident.

Once inside the gate, you'll notice there is ample shade in the park for when you and your BFF find yourselves needing to take a break from the sun via the many trees and the large shade pavilions. There are also wading pools and a hydrant fountain for cooling off.

The very spacious park has plenty of grass with room for dogs to romp, roam, and run, including graded areas which allow for running uphill. All dogs inside the fence are expected to be off-leash so you'll want to teach your dog appropriate ways of interacting with other canines.

City Bark has a separate fenced in area about the size of a dog run specifically for small dogs under 25 lbs. The entrance to the smaller section is on the Diagonal Drive side of the park.

Amenities offered by the park include restrooms, benches, fountains, an agility course, a quarter mile paved walking path, wading pools, a washing off area, and of course, poop bags.

City Bark is open daily from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm year-round, however the park is closed weekly on Tuesday mornings until 1 pm for regular maintenance. The park's Facebook page is updated regularly with information about happenings and accessibility.

Important City Bark Safety Rules:

-- Smoking is NOT allowed

-- No children under the age of 8 years old.

-- Food and drinks are NOT allowed in the park.

-- Minimal cell phone use only.

-- Full attention must be paid to dogs at ALL times.

-- Only three dogs per household allowed at one time.

For the full list of park rules see: 

City Bark Permits and Rules

To stay abreast of updates on the park visit:

City Bark on Facebook

Please note: If you are visiting City Bark from out of town you MUST have a visitor pass to enter the dog park. Information on obtaining a temporary permit can be found here:

Tourist/Temporary Permit

Useful Links:

Yelp Nola City Bark Review Page

5 Tips for Socializing Your Dog

22 Dog Park Etiquette Tips

For more info on dog parks, socializing, and other dog culture topics, be sure to see our Pinterest board, Doggie Domain.

Exploring The Upper 9: A Visit to Little Paws Dog Park

Situated slightly off the beaten path in the upper 9's historic Bywater neighborhood, Little Paws Dog Park is easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. In fact, if you happen to glance to the right instead of diligently keeping watch on the left, you'll most certainly drive right past it.

Located at 4517 N. Robertson, two blocks below Poland Avenue, Little Paws sits adjacent to the on-ramp of the Judge Seeber (industrial canal) bridge, between Kentucky and Japonica Streets. The small park, which first opened in January of 2015, is for small dogs only 40 lbs or less.

Conceived by Tia  Torres of Pit Bulls and Parolees fame, Little Paws became New Orleans' fourth off-leash dog park when it opened last year. It is the result, in part, of a successful bid in the 2014 Propeller and New Orleans Redevelopment Authority sponsored PitchNola Lots of Progress event by Little Dawgz in the Hood, which garnered a second place win and $2,000 award (provided by Entergy).

Villalobos Rescue Center runs the park, which is open daily from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm.  Unlike the other parks/runs we've looked at thus far, Little Paws has a good amount of shade.

There is ample open space for little fur babies to run around and play on and off of grass.

There are a number of benches around the sides of the park...

As well as a water pad...

On the day of our visit the recycled toilet drinking fountain in the front of the park had been dismantled, but there was a spigot and hose just inside the gate along the front fence.

There is a bathroom for the park's two-legged visitors (though it may be a good idea to bring along a pocket pack of tissues and some wipes when visiting).

One thing to note about the park is the presence of at least one oak tree - specifically the tree at the park entrance, that had littered the ground with acorns. Both oak leaves and acorns can be toxic to dogs, so keep an eye on pups prone to chew.


Our previous dog park posts:

NOLA Dog Parks Part 2: The Crescent Park Dog Run

A Glimpse at the Dog Run at Wisner Playground


Useful links:

Neighborhood Eyesore to Gathering Place

Dog Parks in New Orleans

Dog Park Etiquette