Just like us, our four legged furry friends need ways to socialize. Running around in the backyard isn’t enough. Walks are great, but in Central Phoenix this means walking on a leash. A licensed pooch off leash can result in a fine up to $250, an unlicensed dog brings a fine of up to $1000 and six months in jail (2007 revised city ordinance 8-14). It doesn’t specify if the jail time is for the dog or the owner. I suppose Sheriff Arpaio might make your tough Doberman wear a pink collar. Well, one step in avoiding this is to train your dog to be a Canine Good Citizen via the AKC. Until then, the city of Phoenix has 5 off leash dog parks, two of which are located in Central Phoenix. In the fenced in areas your canine friend can run as fast as he wants and play with other dogs. The two off leash dog parks in Central Phoenix are located at Steele Indian School Park and Washington Park.
The dog park is a recent addition, June 2006, to Steele Indian School Park. This 1.8 acre space offers small hills and shrubs. Double gated entries and a seperate area for smaller dogs is a nice addition to the park. Community members continue to raise funds for future dog park upgrades. Located in the northeast corner of the park, it can be accessed from the SISP parking lot on 7th St, north of Indian School Rd.
PetSmart sponsors the dog park at Washington Park. This 2.5+ acre grassy field offers six foot high fencing, double gates (so puppies can’t sneak out), seperate areas for large and small dogs, water fountains, and complimentary poop bags for cleaning up after your dog (so others don’t have to). This park is located just north of Maryland (1/2 way between Bethany Home and Glendale Rd) on 21st Ave. Parking is just north of the off leash area.
If you have a dog you may want to consider the location of dog parks when selecting your Central Phoenix Real Estate.
