Ten Best Dog Parks in Broward County

Who's a good dog? Your dog? Well, it's time to reward him, then! While you're away, your dog is sitting at home, waiting, wondering if every sound or flash of lights against the front window is you getting home. You're his entire life. He loves you unconditionally. He doesn't tell your secrets to anyone. Well, that's mostly because he can't speak, but if he could speak, he would say you owe him a trip to the dog park for his unquestioned loyalty. 

Yes, a dog park. Not a regular-old park. A dog park. Ever hear of a cat park? No! You know why? Because dogs earned this. Now give them what is owed to them. You have thumbs and GPS; otherwise, they would do it themselves. 

Here are the best dog parks in Broward County. Your dog can't read, so this is on you. 

10. Happy Tails Dog Park at Seminole Park
6500 SW 16th St., Plantation
954-452-2510

Happy Tails' features include three activity areas: a leash-free run section, a wide-open fun area for bigger dogs, and an exercise area. Don't worry if your dog is more of a lightweight than heavyweight; there is an area for smaller dogs that weigh 20 pounds or less. The park is open 7 a.m. until dusk every day except Wednesday, when it opens at noon. 

9. Dr. Paul's Dog Park
2915 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs
954-344-1000; toppetcare.com

Dr. Paul's Dog Park's puppy perks include agility equipment, an open field for a leash-free frolic, and water stations so your best friends can quench their thirst without having to go through the whole playing-charades-with-their-eyes-and-tail deal with you. There's a small-dog area to keep the little guys from getting trampled by the big guys. And human bathrooms are close by for when nature calls. This is also one of the only dog parks for night owls, with hours from dawn to 9:30 p.m. — and plenty of lights.

8. Precious Paws Dog Park at Patrick J. Meli Park (City of Dania Beach)
2901 SW 52nd St., Dania Beach
954-985-4400

Precious Paws is a spacious 1.1-acre dog park that features separate fenced-in areas — one for large dogs and the other for small dogs, both unleashed-approved. This particular park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, excluding holidays. This is one of those parks where to get the goods, you're going to have to show your dog's vaccinations in advance. The park offers a good value with its $25-a-year price for city residents. 

7. Dog Park at Poinciana Park
1301 S. 21st Ave., Hollywood
954-921-3404

This particular dog park is set up great for privacy and includes ample shade. Rather than nonstop fun, this is the park where you take your pooch to get a little relaxation while you read a book on a bench. It's fenced, so no worries about traffic nearby, and the residents are known to mingle here, making it a sort of a meeting place in the neighborhood. Admission is free. Park hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

6. Windmill Dog Park
700 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek
954-545-6670

The Dog Park at Windmill Park features three fully enclosed spacious areas for dogs to enjoy leash-free play. Upside to this park is it's absolutely free and has much more than just a dog park going for itself. The park includes gazebos, basketball courts, jog/walk paths, racquetball courts, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, and a kids' playground. Again, all for free.

5. Quiet Waters Park 
401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach
954-357-5100

OK, this isn't technically a dog park, but it is a very dog-friendly park. While you do need to keep Rex on a six-foot leash, you can also take him camping, paddleboarding, and jogging alongside your bicycle — or, ya know, sitting happily in a basket for the small-dog set. How many times has your dog been paddleboarding? I bet zero. I bet you regret that at this moment, reading this. I bet you are considering doing that this weekend now, because it would make for an awesome selfie. Just make sure you clean up after your dog here, because kids are trying to make their own memories at Quiet Waters, and stepping in dog poo isn't a good one.

4. Tradewinds Park and Stables 
3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek
954-357-8870

Also, not technically a dog park, and the purists are getting annoyed, but hear me out. Here is another park every Broward resident knows about but probably never took his dog to. Tradewinds is 626.7 acres of been-there-done-that at this point in our lives, but imagine what it would be like for your dog, whose most exciting trip lately has been sniffing your mailbox until you yelled at him Hurry up! Here, again, all dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash, but that doesn't mean there has to be a leash on his fun. Tradewinds also has a disc golf course, a lake for fishing, athletic fields, and Butterfly World, but keep in mind that while Fido is welcome in the park, some of those areas are off-limits.


3. Oakland Bark Park
971 NW 38th St., Oakland Park
954-630-4508

Oakland Bark Park is quiet, which might be the best thing one can say about a dog park. You won't find doggy slip-n-slides or crazy-automated dog water fountains here, just a good, free, spacious, shaded, fenced park for your dog and you to get some outdoors time together while he runs free. There are obstacle-course-like structures set up around the park for your dog to run through and around and plenty of places to tire your dog out. Everything you need is here, and it even has a wash area for your dog (and you too, I guess) to use after you're done playing. Just remember to bring a towel, for the sake of your car seats.

2. Barkham at Markham Dog Park
16001 W. State Road 84,  Sunrise
954-357-8868; [email protected]

An annual fee of $25 gets your dog the unlimited-Disney-rides pass at the beautifully Bermuda-sodded Barkham Park. This park requires documentation of current vaccinations, which might seem like a pain at first but later on will make you feel much safer than you would feel at some sketchy random park. Markham is a space designed to let your dog enjoy leash-free runs, spanning three acres of fenced-in field. Areas for large and small dogs are available. 

1. Dog Beach at Hollywood Beach
Between Pershing Street and Custer Street in Hollywood Beach
954-921-3404

The draw here is obviously the beach; there is no getting around that. This is one of the few places in South Florida where Spike can dig his toes into the sand and frolic in the ocean. Unlike some other dog parks that charge fees, Dog Beach actually has the capability to take credit cards on an iPad, which is awesome, because you probably just used all your dollar bills and loose change on the metered parking across the street. You can purchase a daily or a six-month pass. Day rates are $5 per dog for Hollywood residents or $10 per dog for nonresidents. A six-month pass is $30 per dog for residents or $60 per dog for nonresidents.  The Dog Beach is open from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, though during daylight-saving time, the hours are adjusted to 4 to 8 p.m. Hands-down during New Times' intense dog-park research, we found that five out of six dogs looked happier at this particular park. The owners did too, because it's the beach!