If you live in or near Boston’s South End, Peters Park’s dog park is the neighborhood’s off-leash living room. Officially it’s the Joe Wex Dog Recreation Space, and it opened in 2007 as Boston’s first city-sanctioned off-leash dog park. It’s fenced, has a separate small-dog section, and is kept up by volunteers from the Friends of Peters Park. It’s a great everyday stop for city pups who need a good run.
Rules can change. Always check the City of Boston Parks and Recreation page and the posted signs before you go.
What to know
- Where: Peters Park, 230 Shawmut Avenue in the South End, Boston, MA 02118. The dog space is inside the park, which runs between Shawmut Ave. and Washington St.
- Size: Over 13,000 square feet, including a separately fenced small-dog area of about 3,000 square feet.
- Off-leash: Only inside the designated Dog Recreation Space. Everywhere else in Boston parks, dogs must be leashed (leashes up to 8 feet).
- Kids’ areas: Dogs aren’t allowed in tot lots, play areas or ball fields, and Peters Park has a tot lot right nearby. Keep your pup on leash and out of it.
- Clean up: Boston’s “Pooper Scooper Law” requires you to bag it and bin it.
- Volunteer-run: The Friends of Peters Park pay for weekly cleaning and repairs, so be kind to the space.
- Pin: ~42.3428, -71.0676.
Tips
- Boston dogs need a city dog license, so keep your tags on.
- The ground is pea stone, not grass, so it doesn’t turn to mud after rain. In winter, wipe paws after the walk home in case there’s salt on the sidewalks.
- Little or shy pups can start on the small-dog side before trying the main area.
- Like most city dog parks, it tends to be busiest before and after work hours, so mid-day is usually calmer for shy pups.
What to pack: leash, bags, fresh water and a bowl, and a secure harness for the walk over.
How to get there
Peters Park is in the South End between Shawmut Avenue and Washington Street, near East Berkeley Street. Most people walk in from the neighborhood. If you’re coming from farther away, MBTA Silver Line buses run along Washington Street next to the park. Street parking in the South End is limited, so walking or transit is easiest.
FAQ
Is Peters Park dog park free?
Yes. It’s a public City of Boston dog recreation space, kept up with help from volunteer donations.
Is it fenced?
Yes, and there’s a separately fenced small-dog area.
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