Writing for Style, Ed Slipek has some good words for the Church Hill Dog Park and Chimborazo Park:
A little more than a year ago the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and a community group, the Friends of the Church Hill Dog Park, teamed up to transform this virtual no-man’s land of park space into a destination for dogs and puppies and those who love them. […] Apparently urban dog parks have joined the neighborhood coffee house and community farmers’ markets as must-have, high-touch amenities in an increasingly high-tech world. But who knew that on the far side of Chimborazo Park the creation of a new dog run also would reveal a forgotten side of something old — a glorious 19th-century pleasure park?
19 comments
I drove all the way out there on a really nice Sunday afternoon. There were no dogs.
I walk my roommate’s dogs down there daily. We are the only dogs there nine times out of ten. Where do y’all walk your dogs? 🙂
I enjoy taking my dog there often. I go at different times of the day, it seems busiest after work. Where are all the small dogs though? My poor dog is usually the only small dog there, he stands at the fence and watches the big dogs play! I’m very thankful to have the dog park with in walking distance from my house!
Everytime I’ve ever been there (which is a few times a week), there are several dogs there – but I also work full time like many other people. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the most popular times are M-F between 4-6PM and Sat-Sun 9AM-noon.
Saturday or Sunday mornings around 9 or 10 are great (or at least they were).
The time change has all us dog park-ers off canter! The sign says “park closes at sunset” … sun set is 5PM.. So, the park is empty pretty much this time of year after working hours. weekends are a better time, between 11am and 3pm you will find all the barkers out there in various clumps 🙂
The city quietly ignores dog park usage in the early evening during winter. They understand that it is impossible for most people to dog walk during daylight hours then.
last winter, the dog park had “winter hours”, where we had permission from the Parks Department to keep the dog park open until 7pm on MWF due to the darkness and the fact that most people work. I imagine this applies to this year as well… but I will try and check on it!
The organizers from CH really did do a fantastic job on the park. We drive by there a lot and it’s just livened the place up. While we don’t have a dog, we really appreciate that there is a dog park available up here when we decide to take on that responsibility!
@Lauren. I have a little dog and try to get their each night at about 4:30 p.m. or 5.
I thought that one side of the the park was specifically for smaller dogs. Not true? I have bigger dogs, but the little dogs need a play space too!
Yes the smaller enclosure is intended for small dogs. There is a sign outside the gate designating it as a “small dog area”. So, if a large dog is in the area and you want to utelize it for a small dog, you have every right to ask the large dog to leave.
Kristin, there are separate play areas for big dogs and little dogs. Apparently Lauren’s small dog (#3) hasn’t met any other small dogs yet, but hopefully she will soon!
where is the dog park
You know that little octagonal building at the edge of Chimborazo, where you can look over Fulton? If you’re there, look down the hill and you’ll see the dog park.
I’ve found the BEST time to take my bulldog mix to the park is sunrise on a weekend… he gets “ball time” with no distractions and i get to breathe clean morning air…
Our dog is small (full grown, 20 pound Scottie) and he wouldn’t put up with being in the “Small Dog” part of the Park. He fits right in with the big dogs and has a fantastic time, every time.
i didnt realize churchhill has something so nice for dogs (for free).
Oh the Chimbo Dog Park is so great! Our dog loves it and he has friends! It’s like doggy kindergarten!