The Best 5 Dog Parks in Glendale

Glendale is a small town in Maricopa County, Arizona. Like any other city in this state, the daily mean temperatures can mean quite some trouble for your furry friends. Temperatures can reach 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) in June, July, and August. As such, your pup’s ability to stay cool must be considered.

Overheating can be a severe condition in dogs, leading to heat stroke, exhaustion, and even sudden death. This is the main reason why you should know where the best dog parks in Glendale are.

The list below will help you decide whenever you feel like indoors is just too hot for your dog. These are the dog parks that you should keep in the back of your head!

1. Sahuaro Ranch Dog Park

Sahuaro Ranch Dog Park is located in the park with the same name. The latter is a large green space that hosts a museum and farm animals. It can be quite an experience if your pet has never seen such animals.

The dog park is a fenced, off-leash area. It features a designated area for small dog breeds, so your pup feels safe while playing. Amenities include several water fountains and dog agility equipment scattered throughout the park. One downside to this dog park is that there are not many shaded areas. It’s better to visit the off-leash area for an intense playtime session and then move to the main park or even visit the Glendale Xeriscape Garden, allowing your pup to cool off in the shade.

Be aware of dog residue in the dog park. It is known that most visitors don’t clean up after their pups.

2. Foothills Dog Park

Foothills Dog Park is located near Foothills Library and Foothills Playground. It is one of the most-visited dog parks in Glendale, mainly due to its emerald green grass. The park features two large separate areas on a monthly rotation of use. Each of these areas includes separate areas for small and large breeds. Each area has water fountains, plenty of shade for owners and pups, grass cover, and benches. One of the two main areas features an agility course.

The dog park is trendy around 6 PM and 7 PM during the week and between 9 AM and 11 AM on Saturdays. One downside to the park is that certain sections might not be open as scheduled. For example, you may arrive there and notice only the large breed area is available.

3. Northern Horizon Park

Northern Horizon Park is located near Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery and is a hotspot for dog owners, especially on Sundays when the park is crowded all day long. The dog park features a large fenced play area with a separate area for small breeds. Shade is also a problem here, with only a few trees present. Lions Park is nearby and can be the ideal destination for a relaxing walk if you want your pet to cool off.

However, Northern Horizon Park is the spot if your pup likes to have fun! It is the largest designated dog park in Glendale. It has a water fountain, waste stations, and several benches (placed carefully under the mentioned trees). The main downsides are the lack of play structures and the location of the water fountain. It’s right next to the small dog area, so getting your large breed there might cause some drama on the way.

4. Sunnyslope Dog Park

Sunnyslope Dog Park is a few blocks away from Sahuaro Ranch Dog Park, so you can switch between the two when one gets too crowded. Saturday is the busiest day for this park, especially around 10 AM.

The dog park consists of a large fenced area separated into two different areas – for breeds of different sizes. A portion of the separation fence is sheltered by a shade structure where owners can find benches and tables. Unfortunately, this is the only shade source in the entire park. The dog park also doesn’t feature any play structures or water fountains. There are water bowls on the wall of a nearby structure, but these don’t always work.

Overall, Sunnyslope Dog Park is the ideal choice for your pet to unwind, run around, and play with other pups. After the intense play session, taking it on a walk through shaded areas is recommended to cool off. 

5. Pioneer Community Park: Dog Park

Pioneer Community Park is some blocks away from Sunnyslope Dog Park. As you can see, you have plenty of options if you arrive somewhere and it’s too busy. For this park, the evenings and weekends are the busiest.

The dog park is located within Pioneer Community Park and features a large fenced area for dogs to play in. There are two separate areas for small and large breeds. Each area has fresh water on demand for both pups and their owners. People can relax under the shade structures placed throughout the dog park.

When your dog gets bored of the park, you can take it on a walk to see Pioneer Lake or watch people play cricket or soccer. There are as many as ten different fields where your pup can just stare at people all day. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Spiky and I/Shutterstock.com