A Pooch on the Loose: Dog Parks in the Oakdale Area

Are you looking for something interesting to do with your dog, besides walking that same old route through the neighborhood?  If you have a vaccinated, well-behaved and socialized dog that can be off their leash without taking off for the next county, it’s fun to visit a dog park. They can play with other dogs, or just run freely and enjoy all the new smells, and you can chat with other dog lovers, or just watch the action. 

Dale Road Open Space & Off-leash Dog Park
11664 Dale Road, Woodbury

This small park in rural Woodbury has some nice features, including a short, partially shaded walking trail consisting mainly of wood chips and grass. There is very little dirt and there are no ponds or creeks, which lets you bring home a clean, dry dog. There are no fences, but it’s about a half mile from Manning Avenue and is bordered mostly by farmland. Take Manning Avenue south to Dale Road (a little past Lake Road), turn right, go to the top of the hill and watch for the signage on your right. Note: Dale Road is a gravel road. A City of Woodbury license is required: see www.ci.woodbury.mn.us for details. 

Woodview Park
Larpenter Avenue and Dale Street, Roseville

Do you have a smaller dog that gets intimidated by bigger, more active dogs?  Check out this park in Roseville, which offers organized small dog play times on Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. and Saturday from 10-11 a.m. There is a completely fenced-in area for your little canine buddy to run around and play freely. You can also continue down the trail to the larger off-leash area, which is partially fenced. There is a small, shady dirt area for meeting and greeting, and a few undeveloped paths through the woods.  Dog are not allowed in the wetland area, which borders this off-leash area. When the leash goes back on, hit the trail again for a bit—you can both enjoy a cool, comfortable stroll through a canopy of shade trees. 

Battle Creek Dog Park
Battle Creek Regional Park, Maplewood

This off-leash area has been around for a few years, and is very popular. On fair-weather days, there can be dozens of dogs and their owners enjoying the various features of this park. You can access the off-leash area from either Lower or Upper Afton Road. If you enter from Upper Afton, you will go directly onto the dirt walking trail, which is totally fenced and is a nice loop of about a mile. There are two separate, large areas for dogs to run free, play and chase balls—and they definitely do!  There are also three ponds throughout the off-leash area—one is fenced off and can only be accessed through a gate, but the other two have no restrictions.   

Never been to a dog park?  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Bring along a “poo” bag—it’s very important to clean up after your dog. Got some extra plastic bags? Bring them along to donate—many dog parks have receptacles to place extra bags into. 
• Wear clothes that you can get dirty—there’s a good chance a friendly, but dirty dog will romp over to meet you. 
• It’s not generally a good idea to bring young children to a dog park. Excited dogs can accidentally knock small kids over, and not every dog at the park is used to being around children.