Are you the type of pet owner that thinks of your four-legged companion more as family than just a pet? You aren’t alone. We love our dogs — and they love us. When shopping for a new home, we survey the yard and think of our dog. Is it big enough for him to run around? Is it secure? How’s the neighborhood? Is it dog-friendly? Are there dog parks nearby, so Fido can make some new friends and get out of the house? These are definitely things to take into consideration,  if you are home shopping in Riverside, here’s a list of the top 5 dog parks, just for you and your best friend.
Finding the perfect dog park is sometimes difficult. Depending on you and your dog, a park that is great for someone else may not be so good for you. Some things people commonly look for in a dog park are: Shady areas, benches, water, agility courses, lots of grass, a separate park for smaller dogs, poop bags. Another factor is people. Dog parks can be quite social, so you may visit a few parks before you find the one that you and your pooch click with!
1. Riverwalk Dog Park
4210 Riverwalk Pkwy
Riverside, CA. 92505
Yelp reviewers give the park 4 stars
What It Has: A fenced, off-leash park, with a separate area for smaller dogs, benches for people and plenty of poop bags, as well as an agility area.
What People Like About It: It’s a large park with pretty, grassy areas and plenty of room to roam.
What They Don’t Like: The park is short on shady trees. Riverside gets quite hot in the summer, so this park may be best in the early mornings or late evening during the summer months.
2. Carlson Dog Park
Mission Inn Avenue and Indian Hill Road
Riverside CA. 92501
Yelp reviewers give the park 4 stars
Carlson dog park is a popular spot located near the base of Mt. Rubidoux and surrounded by trails perfect for strolling either pre or post park playtime.
What It Has: A fenced, off-leash area for your dog to run. There are two separate fenced areas for dogs, however large and small dogs frequently mix together here. There is an agility course. There are shady areas, grass and benches.
What People Love About It: They love the agility course and the setting.
What They Don’t Like: There seems to be an issue with people not picking up after their dogs.
3. Dairyland Park
14520 San Remo
Eastvale CA. 92880
Yelp reviewers give this park 4.5 stars
A bit out of the immediate Riverside area, but still in the Inland Empire is Dairyland park. It is a much-loved and visited park that people find worth a little extra drive.
What It Has: This versatile area has packed dirt, grass, artificial grass and a running trail around the perimeter of the park. There is an agility course, benches for the humans and some shade.
What People Like About It: People rave about the spacious park, the agility course and the cleanliness of the park, as well as the surrounding amenities.
What People Don’t Like: No complaints about this park, sounds like the perfect place to take your pooch!
4. Pat Merritt Dog Park
Limonite Frontage Road
Riverside CA. 92509
Yelp reviewers give this park 4.5 stars
Pat Merritt Park is a conveniently located Riverside dog park (and people park, too!) that has a lot to offer. It is a well-attended dog park and you and your furry friend will have plenty of friends there.
What It Has: Plenty of space, lots of green grass and shady trees, a drinking fountain for humans and pups and several benches and picnic tables. Separate areas for large and small dogs.
What People Like About It: The biggest draw seems to be the people and their pets. In addition, people rave about the cleanliness of the park, the pretty views and atmosphere, the abundant grass and shade and the nice neighborhood and parking.
What People Don’t Like: No real complaints, aside from the lack of play equipment for the dogs.
5. Etiwanda Creek Community Dog Park
5939 East Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA. 91739
Yelp reviewers give the park 3.5 stars
This is a large, clean dog park with lots of space and a regular crowd. It’s a bit further down the freeway, perfect if you live on the outskirts in that direction, or a short ride if you want to try something different.
What It Has: Space, separate areas for large and small dogs, benches for humans. There are also poop bags, some toys and a kiddie pool for dogs to play in.
What People Like About It: General cleanliness, space and amenities.
What People Don’t Like About It: Not enough grass and lots of dirt. This can be an issue during the winter, but if you and your dog like mud, it’s perfect.
Finding Your Favorite
These are the most popular dog parks in Riverside and the surrounding area. There are numerous others to explore as well. Try out different parks to find the one you and your pet like best. Most dog parks have “regulars” and being social is a big part of the dog park experience. Who knows, maybe you and your dog will find lots of new friends. Try going at different times of the day for more or less crowds, and keep things fresh by trying out new parks periodically.
2 Point Highlight
Some things people commonly look for in a dog park are: Shady areas, benches, water, agility courses, lots of grass, a separate park for smaller dogs, poop bags.
Carlson dog park is a popular spot located near the base of Mt. Rubidoux and surrounded by trails perfect for strolling either pre or post park playtime.
