Great Dog Parks in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia doesn’t have a plethora of dog parks, but it has a few ones that are very practical and fun! Most of them have special community organizations that maintain and improve these parks.

Barker Field Dog Park at Byrd Park

This is a fenced, off-leash dog park.  The specific area is deep inside the park, so bring a leash to walk your dog through. You will find it just south of the 240 foot War Memorial. It is supported by the Friends of Barker Field.  It has bench swings, shade and drinking water in warm months. It is a big park for your dog to run around in, and the city often puts in mulch so that it doesn’t get muddy. There is a separate section for small dogs. It is a popular park, so it’s good for social dogs and owners. Dogs must be fixed to enter this park, no female dogs in heat!

Phideaux Field at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church

This is a small, nice park. It is a simple fenced area in front of a church. They do provide water bowls, but you need to bring your own water. It is usually not very busy, so it’s a good place if your dog is not into a lot of excitement. It’s a good place on weekends when the other parks get really crowded.

Church Hill Dog Park

This is a new park, which opened in 2008. It is fenced and off-leash. There are proposed doggie cool-off stations that will hold 6.5 gallons of water. Dogs of all sizes are welcome.

Ruff House Dog Park at Rockwood Park

This is a fun off-leash dog park that sometimes holds seasonal events. All sorts of dogs enjoy coming to this park. The park has two separate areas, benches and nearby drinking water in the summer months. It has a high fence that surrounds it. There are tons of trails to walk around with your dog in the greater park as well.

Hanover Dog Park

This dog park is located in Ashland, Virginia. Make sure to pay attention to the hours that you can go to this park; it is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM. On Wednesday, it is open from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. On Saturday, it is open from 10:00 AM-3:30 AM. Despite its strange hours, it is enjoyable with its 6 foot fence over the one acre, dog agility equipment, a time-out area, waste stations, a water station and benches.