South Tampa Dog Parks Sure to Keep Tails Wagging

On a breezy summer evening, David Saniter and his girlfriend walk their “Mississippi Mutt” Ben along a shady, paved walking trail through Gadsden Park, just north of MacDill Airforce Base. The trio is on their way to the leash-free dog park located in the southwest corner of the park.

“We have been coming to this park for a couple of years now,” Saniter said. “We like that it is close to home, shady and makes for a nice walk,” he adds, watching Ben chase squirrels from one tree to another.

This is one of the largest leash-free dog parks in the South Tampa area. And it’s divided to keep the larger breeds separate from the smaller ones. Just outside the double-gated entrance are dog waste disposal bags and trash cans. Though very busy at peak times, there’s lots of room for lots of dogs - and their owners, too.

“People usually get to know your dog’s name before they know yours,” Saniter said. “They will even ask about your dog if they haven’t seen you here in a while.”

A few miles away from Gadsden Park is the Palma Ceia Dog Park, a small, leash-free space situated next to the Palma Ceia Playground. There is only street parking here, and spaces are limited. A fenced-in park, it features shaded picnic tables and a concrete slab with water spout and bowls. One draw back: there’s very little grass. So expect your dog to get dirty. And wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little messy.

If you live closer to downtown, or are just looking for something a little different, you’ll want to check out the dog park at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This is a small park for mostly smaller to medium-sized breeds. But it’s perfect if you live within walking distance. If you’re driving, your best option is the Poe Parking garage. The dog park is located just behind the lot, and the rate is $1.20 per hour. One interesting fact about the park: there’s no real grass, only artificial turf. There is, however, a water fountain made especially for dogs, and some neat obstacles for play. Be sure to bring your own bags for waste disposal.

One great thing about living in South Tampa is being close to the water. There are two dog parks that allow dogs to run freely along the shore - Davis Island Dog Park and Picnic Island Beach Park.

Davis Island Dog Park seems to be the most popular park for canines in the South Tampa area. It’s easy to find - at the southern tip of Davis Island, next to the boat dock - and there’s plenty of parking.

“I like coming here because I love being by the water, “ said Lisa Windsor. “I can just sit and relax while Rex has fun splashing around and making friends,” said Windsor, as she threw a ball into the water for her Chocolate Lab to fetch.

Windsor also likes that people are friendly here and really good dog owners. “I’ve never seen any serious conflicts between dogs,” she added. “The owners usually step in before anything serious happens.”

There are actually two parks here - one on the beach and another just a few yards away. Both are fairly large and have plenty of room for running. The parks have a spigot for drinking or rinsing off, and there are plenty of dog waste disposal bags and trash cans.

Picnic Island Beach Park is a lesser-known dog park, situated in the Port Tampa neighborhood. And it’s not that easy to find. But the park borders more than 200 feet of shoreline, and dogs love that. It’s fenced off from the parking area, and waste disposal bags and trash cans are plentiful.

South Tampa Dog Parks:

• Gadsden Park, 6901 S. MacDill Ave. Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
• Palma Ceia Park, 2200 Marti St. Hours: 8 a.m.-7:15 p.m. (or sunset) Mon-Fri; 9 a.m.-7:15 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.
• Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N Ashley Dr. Hours: Sunrise to 10 p.m.
• Picnic Island Beach Park, 7404 Picnic Island Blvd. Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
• Davis Island Dog Park, 1002 Severn St. Hours: Sunrise to sunset.