Off-Leash Dog Areas
Austin Parks Foundation loves dogs. We believe off-leash dog areas provide ideal opportunities for neighbors to meet and volunteerism to blossom. A well managed, community supported off-leash park can be a real neighborhood asset!
Austin Parks Foundation has supported several off-leash park projects, including grants for improvements at Norwood Estate Park , West Austin Park, and Red Bud Isle, and multiple volunteer events at Shoal Creek Greenbelt. These areas have dedicated volunteer groups who put a lot of time and effort into improving and rehabilitating these areas.
Austin has 12 great off-leash dog areas, but as the city grows more are needed. Conflicts arise when off-leash areas outgrow their capacity, and in places where there is a lack of dog-friendly facilities.
In 2008, Austin Parks Foundation has formed an advocacy task force to help identify potential off-leash areas, gain community support, and bring them into being. If you would like to be a part of these efforts, join our Austin Off-Leash Dog Area Committee Google Group (see below).
Even if you cannot join our advocacy task force, you can do your part to keep off-leash dog areas clean by scooping the poop. Visit the City of Austin's Scoop the Poop website for more information. Remember, if in doubt, pick it up!
Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Dogs need space to run, social interaction with other dogs, and places just to be themselves. At the same time, dogs can have a negative impact on parks when rules are not observed. Dog owners can be fined for breaking the leash law, not cleaning up after their pets and having their pets in prohibited “No Dogs Allowed” areas.
City code states that "Persons bringing pets or other animals into outdoor park areas shall keep them under confinement or direct control. Leads on leashes used to control animals shall not be more than six feet long."
City Code allows dogs to be without a leash in designated areas, provided that each dog remains under immediate personal supervision and command. The code states, “Patrons shall not permit a pet or other animal to remain unattended or create a disturbance or a hazard.”
If there is an unattended dog in your off-leash area, of if a dog is a hazard, call 911. Ongoing problems with park goers not respecting the rules or safety of others should be addressed through education.
Recent News
Mary Moore Searight Park Off-Leash Trail Being Planned
The Parks Department Director, Sara Hensley, recently gave the green light to continued planning and development of an off-leash trail at Mary Moore Searight. This will be the first new official off-leash area in years. Because city off-leash policies are still being developed, this trail is being considered a pilot project. Development may take a long time as details are worked out. However, we are optimistic that a beautiful new recreational opportunity for dogs and their people will soon be available!
Recognition and thanks go to volunteer Claire Sorenson for her dedication and perseverance in creating a plan, recruiting volunteers, and building community support for project. More details are on Claire's website, sites.google.com/site/slaughtercreektrails/
 |
| Subscribe to Austin Off-Leash Dog Area Committee |
| Visit this group |
Other off-leash advocacy groups in Austin include:
- Bull Creek Dog Off-leash Group (BCDOG)
- Bart Dog Walkers, a Windsor Park group focused on advocating for off-leash at Bartholomew Park.
- Dog Parks for East Austin (Yes, that does spell DogPEA)
- Friends of Norwood Estate Dog Park
- Friends of Red Bud Isle
- Friends of Auditorium Shores
- Mary Moore Searight Park Nature Trail and Habitat Restoration Project
A List of Off-Leash Dog Areas in Austin
| Trail at Ladybird Lake: Auditorium Shores | 920 W. Riverside Drive 78704 |
| Turkey Creek at Emma Long | 1600 City Park Rd. 78730 |
| Davis White Northeast District Park | 5909 Crystalbrook Dr. 78724 |
| Norwood Estate and Off-Leash Area | 1009 Edgecliff Terrace 78704 |
| Red Bud Isle | 3401 Redbud Trail 78703 |
| Onion Creek | 7001 Onion Creek Dr. 78744 |
| Shoal Creek Greenbelt-Central | 2631 Shoal Creek Blvd. 78705 |
| Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park | 12138 N. Lamar Blvd. 78753 |
| West Austin Park | 1317 W. 10th St. 78703 |
| Zilker Metropolitan Park | 2100 Barton Springs Rd. 78746 |
Austin Parks Foundation 816 Congress, Suite 1680, Austin, TX 78701 tel 512.477.1566 fax 512.477.1586 Copyright © 2010 Austin Parks Foundation. All rights reserved. |
 |
Volunteer!
Get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air! Visit our list of upcoming volunteer events.
Subscribe!
Our monthly newsletter features Austin Parks Foundation events, park news and volunteer opportunities.
Already a subscriber? Update your profile.
Become a Member
Austin Parks Foundation is supported by individuals like you. Members are our life blood and for $35 and up, you can become a member for a full year. Sign up now!