Need a place for your dog to burn off some energy? You’re in luck! There are plenty of great dog parks in Plano and the surrounding area for you and your pup to explore and have fun. Grab your leash, call your pup, and get ready to explore the best Plano dog parks the DFW has to offer.
Bob Woodruff Dog Park
You can literally walk to this dog park from our facility!
Bob Woodruff Dog Park offers seven acres of off-leash playtime and is nestled in the scenic Bob Woodruff Park. It features separate zones for both large and small dogs, as well as picnic tables, benches, water stations (for both you and your dog), waste disposal facilities, and evening lighting.
When you walk up to the dog park, you’ll see a central shade structure outside of four double-gated fenced areas. However, don’t be confused when only two of them are unlocked—the fenced areas alternate between locked and unlocked to minimize wear and tear on the turf. The shade within the fenced enclosures is sparse, but the expansive areas and gentle downhill slope make this park an ideal place for spirited games of fetch with balls and frisbees.
There’s also a paved trail outside the fence that connects to the extensive trail network of Bob Woodruff Park. It’s the perfect spot for you and your furry friend to enjoy the outdoors and revel in the natural beauty.
The park is closed every Tuesday from sunrise until 4 p.m. for maintenance and closes at 10:30 p.m. each day. The lights will flash a warning strobe when they’re about to turn off for the night.
Windhaven Meadows Dog Park
Located in Windhaven Meadows Park, Windhaven Meadows Dog Park offers a 5-acre area with separate areas for both large and small dogs. The park is securely fenced and has double-gated entries. Dog owners will find pet rinse stations, evening lighting, picnic tables, seating walls, shade shelters, stone benches, waste pickup stations, and water stations for both humans and canines.
Visitors can also enjoy the children’s playground, walking paths, pond, and ample open space of the rest of Winhaven Meadows Park, so long as their dogs remain leashed.
The park closes briefly each Wednesday from sunrise to 4 p.m. for routine maintenance, and the rinse stations are winterized and turned off during the colder months. Restrooms and nearby parking are available for added convenience. Overall, Windhaven Dog Park is a great place to spend quality time with your furry friends in a beautiful park setting.
Jack Carter Dog Park
Jack Carter Dog Park offers two acres full of amenities for pet owners:
- Separate fenced, double-gated areas for large and small dogs
- Benches
- Dog rinse station
- Lighting
- Picnic tables
- Shade structures
- Waste pickup and disposal stations
- Water stations for both humans and dogs
This dog park, located along the Bluebonnet Trail near the intersection with Chisholm Trail, is also a convenient area to go on long, leashed walks with your dog along Plano’s green belts. Visitors can enjoy quality moments with their pets in this tranquil urban retreat.
There are several other great outdoor amenities if you’re up for a bit of a walk. (Consider teaching your dog to heel first!) Follow Chisolm Trail and you’ll pass Jack Carter Outdoor Pool and the athletic fields to reach the area of Jack Carter Park with a beach volleyball court and an inclusive playground, plus restrooms and a picnic pavilion.
The park closes at 10:30 p.m. and, just like Bob Woodruff Dog Park, features a warning strobe to signal visitors before the lights automatically turn off. During the winter months, the dog rinse station is temporarily winterized and will be back in action come spring. There’s a dedicated parking lot located just west of the dog park for easy access.
NorthBark Dog Park
NorthBark Dog Park is the largest dog park in North Texas, boasting an impressive 22+ acres of off-leash space with plenty of amenities. Located just off the intersection of North Dallas Tollway and the President George Bush Turnpike, this canine paradise features:
- Separate double-gated areas for small and large dogs
- A dog beach beside the dog lake in a third-fenced area
- A 6-foot wide loop trail
- Plenty of shade
- Dog rinse station
- Dog and human water stations
- Waste stations
- Picnic pavilion
If you plan to let your dog splash around in the pond, do remember to bring a towel and brush—letting your dog run around with a wet coat and roll around to dry themselves off can lead to matting! If you need help, don’t worry-we offer professional dog de-matting services!
This huge dog park near Plano offers an unparalleled space for your pup to roam, play, and make friends.
Bush Central Barkway
Bush Central Barkway is unique in several ways, with its location being the most apparent—it’s located beneath a highway overpass right at the intersection of George Bush Turnpike and US-75. The overpass offers quite a bit of shade to the six-acre dog park below, and by all accounts, the traffic noise doesn’t seem to bother the pups at play.
A second unique feature of this Plano dog park is that it has four separate park sections, all for different purposes: large dogs, small dogs, sedentary dogs (such as seniors and dogs recovering from surgery), and a reservable section. This fourth section has hosted adoption events, training classes, and even birthday parties.
Each section is double-gated, including the brick plaza that features picnic tables, restrooms, and vending machines (though dogs should remain leashed in the plaza). They also feature their own water and waste stations. The ground cover is primarily grass, with some sand and gravel in the mix. The large dog area features piles of rocks and boulders to climb on, while the small dog area has a decorative fire hydrant. There are lights on at night, but the might not cover all areas of the park.
Bush Central Barkway is the perfect place to let your pup roam, play, and make lasting memories. There are a few dog-friendly restaurant patios nearby, like Rodeo Goat and Fish Shack, so this is a great place to stop and let your dog run off some energy while you run errands and bounce around nearby things to do.
MUTTS Canine Cantina
Speaking of pit stops and dog-friendly restaurants: MUTTS Canine Cantina in Allen, Texas, offers a unique experience for pet owners. It’s a hybrid between a restaurant and an off-leash dog park, with two fenced dog park areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs.
A membership is technically required to access the dog park areas, but day passes are among the membership offerings, and there are discounts for multiple dogs. Pay-to-enter has its benefits, too; you can sit back and relax in the many lawn chairs scattered around the park areas while attendants clean up after your pup and refill their water bowls.
At the bar and grill, humans can enjoy a range of delicious dishes and treat their dogs to a peanut-butter-and-beef-broth “pupsicle” or an all-beef sausage off the dog menu. All restaurant seating is at outdoor picnic tables on the pet-friendly patio, but dogs must remain on a leash until they enter the fenced dog park.
Ready to Unleash the Fun?
No matter where you’re located in Plano, there’s a great dog park near you. From NorthBark to Bush Central Barkway, there’s something for every type of dog. With so many Plano dog parks to choose from, you and your pup are sure to find the perfect place to call your own.
Want to learn how to be a professional dog groomer? We offer an incredible dog groomer training program. Contact us for more details!