One of our favorite things to do is play at local dog parks with our furry friends, and we feel truly blessed to have such an amazing selection at our fingertips. Whether your pup needs a fully fenced enclosure or you both enjoy off leash dog hiking, there’s a perfect park for you!
James O. Breen aka West Side Community Dog Park
Campton Hills and Peck Roads, St. Charles
Hours of Operation: Sunrise – Sunset
Permits: None (currently)
Size/Breed Restrictions: None
Review: Nestled behind the water park and the sports fields of James O. Breen Park is a large fenced in dog park. What I like about this park is that it has 3 separate enclosures, one for small dogs, a medium sized area with agility equipment for small dogs, shy dogs, or dogs in training, and a large area for pups of all shapes and sizes to play in. You will encounter a lot of regulars at this park so if you’re outgoing, new to the area, and looking for friendly dog-loving people, this is a great place to be on fair-weather weekends. During the warm months there is a dog and human water fountain and a plethora of water bowls to hydrate your pup.
Batavia Bark Park
40W101 W. Main Street at West Main Community Park, Batavia
Hours of Operation: Sunrise – Sunset
Permit: None
Size/Breed Restrictions: None
Review: This is one of our favorite dog parks. The Bark Park boasts hiking trails, a large fenced dog park, and a large pond for the pups to cool down in during the summer months. All areas of the park offer shade, making this a great park no matter what the season may bring. The patrons are responsible, friendly, and respectful of this great space. The Bark Park recently incorporated a frisbee golf course amongst the hiking trails. Though the patrons of the course tend to be dog friendly, we recommend paying close attention to your pups so they don’t disturb them.
Fox River Bluff Off Leash Dog Area
Route 31 and Red Gate Road, St. Charles
Hours of Operation: 8:00am – Sunset
Permits: None
Size/Breed Restrictions: None
Review: We are regulars at this fantastic off-leash dog hiking park for many reasons. However, I have to recommend caution to anyone considering visiting this park. There is no fence and, in some places, precious little space between this park and Route 31. Dogs have lost their lives darting from one of the park trails onto this busy street. Also, the park is along the Fox River which can be dangerously swift during wet months and unpredictably icy during the winter months. That said, if you have dogs that are great at recall and you use a little common sense you will really enjoy this park. The trails run through fields and forested areas and the new pedestrian bridge also leads to bike trails that can add considerable distance to your walk. There are a lot of wonderful regulars at this park that my dogs and dog clients adore, it’s relatively clean of waste, and the dogs LOVE lounging and playing in the river and bombing through the trees and open fields.
East Side Sports Complex Dog Park aka Commerce Drive Dog Park
3565 Legacy Blvd., Edwards N. Regole Park, St. Charles
Hours of Operation: 9:00am – Sunset
Permits: None
Size/Breed Restrictions: None
Review: When I first visited this park I got lost in a maze of no-parking areas and couldn’t figure out how to get to the dog park parking. A satellite map cleared it up but, just in case you’re planning on plugging the address into your GPS, I’ll give you a tip. The parking area is on the other side of the park and cannot be reached from the Kirk/Legacy Blvd entrance. From Kirk, drive west on Swenson Ave, turn right on Kautz Rd., and take the first right onto Commerce Dr. The dog park parking will be straight ahead. That said, I am not particularly fond of this park. It’s not very big so if you have a dog that loves to run you will not find what you’re looking for here. Additionally, the swimming pond leaves a whole lot to be desired. By early spring it is so thick with algae and bacteria that it becomes practically unusable. Also, it is not fully fenced in, so if your dog is an escape artist (or simply a wanderer) you will likely have a runaway to chase down. The only upside to this park is its array of agility equipment, including an A-Frame, tunnel, and jump agility equipment, which are appropriately sized for most dogs.