By Trey Reeves, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
Dog owners always look for opportunities to take their four-legged friends beyond their backyards for some healthy outdoor exercise. In College Station, that’s an easy task.
We have 56 dog-friendly parks with 1,895 beautiful acres to experience. That means you can explore a new park every week for a year!
Dogs are required to be leashed in most of our parks – and please clean up after them. If you want a little more running room, check out our off-leash dog parks that offer benches, shaded areas, and open spaces for your dog to run and socialize.
College Station Dog Parks
Barracks Park has a fenced-in recreational area with benches and a covered shelter for owners to relax while their pups play. In addition, you can keep them hydrated with the convenient fountains at the side of the park.
University Park has opportunities for small and large dogs with separate fenced-in play areas. It also has a walkway through the woods that leads to a large pond where your pup can cool off, swim, and frolic with the other dogs. The park also boasts an agility obstacle course in the large dog area and a wash and hydration station.
Steeplechase is a 1.5-acre fenced-in area where your pup can release all that pent-up energy. A 0.2-mile walking look sits just inside the fence, so you can also get your steps in. When your dog needs a quick rinse, a wash and hydration station is available, so don’t forget your towel. Your kids can have fun with a nearby play unit and a basketball court.
Designated Off-Leash Trail
Among Lick Creek Park’s five miles of marked trails sits Raccoon Run, a 1.7-mile off-leash trail that gives your pup a little more room to explore. Dogs must be under voice control, and dog park rules apply.
The Lick Creek Nature Center’s hydration stations and restrooms are about a half mile from Raccoon Run, the only off-leash trail in Lick Creek Park. Dogs must always remain leashed on all the other trails.
Dog Park Rules
- Park hours are sunrise to sunset.
- Female dogs in heat aren’t permitted.
- Dogs younger than four months are not allowed in off-leash parks.
- Dogs more than four months old must be rabies vaccinated and registered with Brazos County. Registration tags can be purchased through your veterinarian or the Aggieland Humane Society (979-775-5755).
- Your dog must wear valid county and rabies vaccination tags. Registration must cover one year from the issue date in conjunction with the rabies vaccination date.
- Pets are not allowed to be free of physical restraint (at large) beyond the boundaries of the owner’s premises or a designated dog park.
- It’s unlawful to not clean up after your pet on public property.
- Dogs must be removed if uncontrollable.
- Handlers must not allow dogs to dig holes in the park and should cover up the holes their dogs create.
Animal Control Ordinances
- Pet owners must observe city ordinances, which are enforceable through the courts. Violations are subject to fines of up to $500.
- Pets are not allowed to be free of physical restraint (at large) beyond the boundaries of the owner’s premises.
- Pets are not allowed to be off-leash in city parks unless it’s designated as a dog park or a leash-free park.
- Excessive noise caused by barking, howling, crowing, or screeching may result in a warning or citation.
- Failing to clean up after a pet off your property violates city ordinance.
- Leaving an animal in a vehicle or trailer is unlawful during extreme temperatures.
- Nuisance behavior such as chasing, biting, or scratching may result in a warning or citation.
- Under state law, rabies vaccinations are required for dogs, cats, and ferrets over four months old.
For a complete list of animal control ordinances, visit cstx.gov/animalcontrol.
About the Blogger
Trey Reeves is in his first year as the marketing coordinator for Parks and Recreation. He previously was the marketing coordinator at Family Compass in Dallas and Camp Blessing in Brenham. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Texas A&M in 2018.
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