New $6.1M Scottsdale Dog Park Opens This Month With 3.5 Acres To Explore

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Scottsdale's four-legged residents are getting a new place to play.

The city is preparing to open the new Thompson Peak Dog Park, a 3.5-acre off-leash park at Thompson Peak Park, 20199 N. 78th Place, with a ribbon-cutting celebration set for Friday, Aug. 21.

The new dog park will give Scottsdale pet owners a dedicated space for their dogs to run, socialize and exercise. The $6.1 million project was funded through a combination of voter-approved bonds and General Fund dollars, with construction expected to wrap up in time for the summer opening.

The grand opening event will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 21 and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, first access to the new off-leash areas and free pup cups for dogs attending the celebration.

Once open, Thompson Peak Dog Park will feature three separate fenced play areas, similar to the popular off-leash setup at Chaparral Park. The multi-area design will allow the city to rotate use between sections, giving grass time to recover while helping keep the park in better condition.

The new facility will also include shade structures, benches, water fountains, pet waste stations, a restroom building, additional parking along Hayden Road and a footbridge connecting the dog park to other Thompson Peak Park amenities.

The park will also feature public art created specifically for the space. Local artist Shachi Kale is designing four art panels for the shade structures, with artwork inspired by Scottsdale's landscape and the personalities of the dogs who will use the park.

"Using my love for storytelling and whimsy and folk art, this design incorporates the plant life, mountain landscape, and a variety of dogs, doing dog things!" Kale said. "Birds and cats make appearances, too."

The Thompson Peak Dog Park project has been years in the making. The park was identified in Scottsdale's Community Services Master Plan in 2015 and later approved for funding as part of the city's 2019 Bond Election.

When it opens, Thompson Peak will become Scottsdale's fourth dog park, joining Chaparral, Horizon and Vista del Camino. The city says the park will follow the same rules as its other off-leash areas and will be open daily from sunrise until 10:30 p.m.