Detroit has more places for your dog to run than most people realize. There are fenced off-leash yards downtown and in Midtown, the city’s biggest dog park on the southwest riverfront, and long leashed walks on Belle Isle and the RiverWalk. We’ve rounded up 15 dog parks and dog-friendly parks in and near Detroit, all pinned on our Dog Fun Map. Each listing has the leash rules, hours, address and an official source, and most link to our full City Pups guide.
Before you go: Hours and rules can change, and parks sometimes close areas for maintenance or events. Check the linked source or the posted signs, and bring water, waste bags and proof of your dog’s vaccinations.
Jump to: Downtown · Midtown, Woodbridge & Corktown · Riverfront & Southwest · North & East Side · Day trips · Tips · FAQ
Off-leash at a glance: Grand Circus, Capitol Park, Midtown, Rose, Detroit Dog Park (Corktown), Riverside, Palmer Park and Balduck all have fenced off-leash areas. Belle Isle, the RiverWalk, Chandler Park, Maybury and Dodge Park are leash-only. Barkside, in West Village and in Southfield, is a paid off-leash dog park and bar.
Downtown
Grand Circus Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the dog park only. Leashed dogs are welcome in the rest of the Downtown Detroit Parks, but the dog parks at Grand Circus and Capitol Park are the only places where dogs may relieve themselves.
A fenced run in the eastern half of Grand Circus Park, a short walk from Comerica Park. The Downtown Detroit Partnership hosts themed dog events here on select Saturdays, including the yearly Howl-O-Ween costume party (the 13th one was Oct. 24, 2026).
Address: Grand Circus Park, E Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 (QLINE: Grand Circus Park stop)
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Grand Circus Dog Park guide →
Source: Downtown Detroit Partnership: Grand Circus Park · DDP park rules
Capitol Park Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the dog park only; leash on everywhere else downtown.
Capitol Park reopened on July 23, 2025 after a six-month renovation that added more lawn, gardens and trees and a refreshed dog park. It’s a compact run surrounded by cafés and apartments, which makes it an easy weeknight stop if you live downtown.
Address: Capitol Park (Griswold, Shelby & State Streets), Detroit, MI 48226
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Capitol Park & Corktown guide →
Source: Downtown Detroit Partnership: Capitol Park
Midtown, Woodbridge & Corktown
Midtown Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the double gates; leash on along Cass and Canfield.
Built by Midtown Detroit, Inc. and long nicknamed the Shinola dog park after its original partner, this is a fully fenced synthetic-turf yard with a separate small-dog area, water, agility equipment and picnic tables. It sits on a tight lot that was once a commercial building, so it’s a quick-play spot rather than a long run.
Address: Cass Ave & W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201
Hours: Listed daily 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Our Midtown Dog Park guide →
Source: BringFido · WH Canon (park builder)
Rose Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the fence; leash on in the surrounding streets and park.
A neighborhood-scale off-leash yard on Trumbull in Woodbridge. The neighborhood named it for Wayne State University Police Sgt. Collin Rose, a K9 officer killed in the line of duty in 2016, and dedicated a memorial medallion here in 2018. There’s free street parking nearby.
Address: 3701 Trumbull St, Detroit, MI 48208
Hours: Listed daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Rose Dog Park guide →
Source: FOX 2 Detroit
Detroit Dog Park (Corktown)
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the gates for licensed, vaccinated dogs; leash on outside.
Detroit’s first dog park, opened in 2014 in Macomb Park just west of Michigan Central. Big and small dogs share one grassy yard, and there’s no water on site, so bring your own.
Address: 17th St & Rose St (Macomb Park), Detroit, MI 48216
Hours: Listed daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Capitol Park & Corktown guide →
Source: BringFido · MLive (2014 opening)
Riverfront & Southwest
Riverside Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the dog park; leash on elsewhere in Riverside Park.
The City of Detroit calls this the largest dog park in the city. It was built in 2019 on the site of the old city dog pound, next to a 20,000-square-foot skate park, with views of the river and the Ambassador Bridge. Visitors report separate big-dog and small-dog sides. If your dog is reactive, note that the skate park is right by the entrance.
Address: 3565 W Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
Hours: City park hours, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Riverside Dog Park guide →
Source: City of Detroit
Detroit RiverWalk & Dequindre Cut
Type: Leashed walking path
Dog rules: Dogs are welcome on a leash and under control. Pick up after your dog. There’s no off-leash area.
Detroit’s best long, flat leashed walk, with river views on the RiverWalk and murals along the sunken Dequindre Cut greenway. Bikes share the path, so keep your dog on the pedestrian side.
Address: Detroit riverfront and Dequindre Cut, downtown to Eastern Market
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our RiverWalk & Dequindre Cut guide →
Source: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy rules
Belle Isle Park
Type: Leashed state park
Dog rules: Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under immediate control. They aren’t allowed in the buoyed swim area or in park buildings.
A 985-acre island state park in the Detroit River, with wooded paths, shoreline views of Canada and plenty of room to roam on a leash. You need a Michigan Recreation Passport to drive onto the island, but not to walk, bike or take the DDOT #12 Conant bus. Central Avenue through the Flatwoods closes every year from Dec. 1 to March 31.
Address: 99 Pleasure Dr, Detroit, MI 48207
Hours: Check DNR for current hours
Our Belle Isle with dogs guide →
Source: Michigan DNR: Belle Isle · DNR pet rules
North & East Side
Palmer Park Dog Park
Type: Fenced off-leash area
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the dog park only. Dogs must be leashed everywhere else in Palmer Park. No aggressive dogs or dogs in heat.
This dog park of just over an acre opened on Aug. 26, 2023, with separate small-dog and large-dog areas, drinking fountains for people and pups, waste-bag stations and shelters. Park for free at the 12th Precinct lot. Don’t park on Seven Mile or on the grass.
Address: 1655 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48203
Hours: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. or sunrise to sunset
Our Palmer Park Dog Park guide →
Source: City of Detroit · Palmer Park Unleashed
Chandler Park
Type: Leashed city park
Dog rules: Leash no longer than 72 inches, and clean up after your dog. Dogs aren’t allowed in play areas, on play equipment or on sports fields.
Detroit’s fourth-largest park, with about 200 acres and walking paths. It’s a good pick for a long leashed loop when the dog parks feel too social. There’s no fenced off-leash area.
Address: 12600 Chandler Park Dr, Detroit, MI 48213
Hours: City park hours, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Our Chandler Park guide →
Source: City of Detroit · Detroit park rules
Balduck Park
Type: Park with a fenced dog park
Dog rules: Off-leash inside the dog park only; leash on (72 inches max) in the rest of the park.
A 56-acre east-side park best known for its sledding hill. The dog park is in the wooded north end, north of Chandler Park Drive, next to a playground, a picnic shelter and forest trails. A renovation that included the dog park wrapped up in March 2024.
Address: 18151 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48224
Hours: City park hours, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Source: City of Detroit
Barkside Detroit (West Village)
Type: Paid indoor/outdoor off-leash dog park and bar
Dog rules: Same rules as Barkside Southfield: every dog needs a day pass or membership, must be at least 6 months old, spayed or neutered from age 1, and up to date on rabies, DHLPP/Da2PP and Bordetella, with vaccine records uploaded to Barkside’s Dog Portal before your first visit. Everyone signs a waiver, and each person can bring up to two dogs.
The original Barkside, on Kercheval Avenue in West Village, on the east side near Belle Isle. It’s an off-leash dog park, bar and coffee shop with an indoor play area, a heated patio and a mud-free outdoor yard, so it works year-round. Humans get in free. Day passes are $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends ($5 for each extra dog from the same home), and a membership covers both Barkside locations. Shinola Hotel guests get free access.
Address: 7960 Kercheval Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
Hours: Mon–Fri 4–9 p.m.; Sat–Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Source: Barkside (location & hours) · Barkside park rules · Barkside passes & memberships · Shinola pet policy
Day trips from Detroit
Maybury State Park (Northville)
Type: Leashed state park
Dog rules: Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash and under immediate control, and you have to clean up after them. Keep dogs out of park buildings.
A 1,000-acre state park about 25 miles northwest of downtown, with rolling hills, meadows and wooded trails. Horses share some trails, so step aside and keep your dog close. You need a Recreation Passport to drive in.
Address: 49601 Eight Mile Rd, Northville, MI 48167
Hours: Check DNR for current hours
Our Maybury State Park guide →
Source: Michigan DNR: Maybury · DNR pet rules
Dodge Park (Sterling Heights)
Type: Leashed city park
Dog rules: Dogs are welcome on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and you must clean up after them.
A 51-acre Sterling Heights park with walking and jogging paths, picnic areas and pet-waste bag dispensers. If you want off-leash play nearby, the city’s fenced Dog Park on Ryan Road has big-dog and small-dog areas, but it’s for annual pass holders only.
Address: 40620 Utica Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Hours: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. (Apr–Sep); 7 a.m.–8 p.m. (Oct–Mar)
Source: Sterling Heights park rules · Dodge Park page · Sterling Heights Dog Park
Barkside Southfield (Southfield)
Type: Paid indoor/outdoor off-leash dog park and bar
Dog rules: Every dog needs a day pass or membership. Dogs must be at least 6 months old, spayed or neutered from age 1, and up to date on rabies, DHLPP/Da2PP and Bordetella, with vaccine records uploaded to Barkside’s Dog Portal before your first visit. Everyone signs a waiver, and each person can bring up to two dogs.
A dog park and bar about 13 miles northwest of downtown, at 11 Mile and Greenfield, with 13,000 square feet of off-leash play space indoors and out. Humans get in free and can order beer or a cocktail while the dogs play. Day passes are $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends ($5 for each extra dog from the same home), and a membership also covers the original Barkside in Detroit’s West Village.
Address: 15640 W Eleven Mile Rd, Southfield, MI 48076
Hours: Mon–Fri 4–9 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Source: Barkside park rules · Barkside passes & memberships
Tips for Detroit dog parks
- Know the leash rules. In Detroit city parks, the limit is 72 inches (city park rules). Michigan state parks like Belle Isle and Maybury use a 6-foot leash (DNR). Downtown, dogs can relieve themselves only inside the Grand Circus and Capitol Park dog parks, not on the lawns or in plant beds.
- Bring your own water. Some parks have fountains (Palmer Park, Midtown), but Detroit Dog Park in Corktown has none, and fountains don’t always work. A collapsible dog bowl weighs almost nothing.
- Use a secure harness for the walk in. Downtown sidewalks, QLINE stops and game-day crowds are easier when your dog can’t slip out. See our city harness guide.
- Plan for winter. Sterling Heights parks close at 8 p.m. from October through March, and Belle Isle’s Central Avenue closes Dec. 1 to March 31. Grass parks like Palmer and Riverside can get muddy after rain or a thaw, so keep a towel in the car.
- Make a day of it. After a downtown or Corktown run, grab a patio table at one of the dog-friendly restaurants in Detroit. Grand Circus and Capitol Park are both a short walk from several of them.
More dog-friendly Detroit
Hungry after the park? See our guide to dog-friendly restaurants in Detroit, or the Metro Detroit restaurant roundup for the suburbs. Staying over? See dog-friendly hotels in Metro Detroit. For trails, beaches and dog parks around the state, browse Dog Fun in Michigan or the full Dog Fun Map.
FAQ
What is the biggest dog park in Detroit?
The City of Detroit calls the dog park at Riverside Park, 3565 W Jefferson Ave, the largest dog park in the city. It opened in 2019 on the southwest riverfront near the Ambassador Bridge.
Are Detroit dog parks free?
Yes. Grand Circus, Capitol Park, Midtown, Rose, Detroit Dog Park in Corktown, Riverside, Palmer Park and Balduck are all free, with no membership needed. Belle Isle and Maybury State Park are free on foot, but you need a Michigan Recreation Passport to drive in. The paid options here are Barkside Detroit and Barkside Southfield, private dog parks with a bar that need a day pass or membership.
Which Detroit dog parks have a small-dog area?
Palmer Park Dog Park has separate small-dog and large-dog areas, and Midtown Dog Park has a small-dog section. Detroit Dog Park in Corktown has one shared yard for all sizes.
Can my dog be off-leash on Belle Isle or the RiverWalk?
No. Belle Isle is a state park, so dogs must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut are leashed paths too. For off-leash play, use a fenced dog park like Grand Circus or Riverside.
What are the hours for downtown Detroit dog parks?
The Grand Circus and Capitol Park dog parks are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless an area is closed for maintenance or an event, according to the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
Disclosure: City Pups is reader-supported, but this guide has no affiliate or sponsored links, and no park or group paid to be included. Rules and hours come from official city, state and park-group pages where available, and from current dog-park listings otherwise. We checked them in October 2026. Rules can change, so always check posted signs before you go.