Northside Dog Park - Richmond, VA
Northside Dog Park: A Local Dog-Friendly Escape in Richmond, Virginia
Northside Dog Park is a welcoming, off-leash dog park located at 500 Forest Lawn Rd in Richmond, VA. Nestled within a larger activity area, this Richmond dog park is known for its relaxed atmosphere, friendly regulars, and ample space for pups to run and play. While not as busy as some other spots in the city, many visitors appreciate its community feel and the opportunity for their dogs to socialize without the crowds. Locals enjoy the shade from the overgrowth and frequently bring amenities to enhance the park experience, such as toys and grocery bags for pet waste.
Though the park shows signs of wear and is maintained mostly by community effort, it offers several picnic tables, benches for seating, and two fenced pen areas with gates. There is no official water fountain, but sometimes a rain barrel is available (bring your own water is advised). Parking is convenient via a long dirt driveway, and the park is separated enough from traffic to allow dogs a safe space to play. If you’re seeking a pet-friendly, dog-loving community in Richmond, Northside Dog Park offers a solid option for letting your furry friend burn off energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated fenced areas.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? Yes, the park is fenced and includes two separate pen areas.
- Is there shade or shelter available? There is some natural shade provided by trees and overgrowth, but little formal shelter.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, there are several benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the park.
- Are poop bags or waste stations provided? Community members often bring grocery bags, but there is no official station—best to come prepared.
- Are there water fountains or bowls for dogs? There’s occasionally a rain barrel and bowls, but it’s often empty and not clean. Bring your own water.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? The park’s maintenance is mainly handled by dedicated community members, so conditions can vary.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available along the long dirt driveway that leads to the dog park area.
Reviews
Wonderful hidden gem that isn’t as crowded as other spots! My wife and I recently moved to this neighborhood and everyone we’ve met here are so kind!! Our pup Frodo loves it.
No water spigot unfortunately but I’m working on improving our rain catch this week!
Decent, but not maintained. Fences have holes in & are curling up in some areas. Nothing a large dog could get through, but my terrier absolutely could. Also, there is a rain barrel provided for water (as well as bowls) but it is filthy inside & usually empty. Would recommend bring your own water. There is a lot of poop, people rarely clean up after their pets. There are also a good amount of holes that have been dug. Overall it does its job as a dog park but you can tell it used to be much better, & is no longer managed by anyone besides community members who help out.
No water!
Lots of space and a gate to close one area off and separate if you need. Several benches / picnic tables. The community brings grocery bags to pick up after your dog.
I used to enjoy coming here. Half of the community take pride in helping out and bring toys, fixing the only shaded area etc. Then there’s bums who drop their dog off inside the park and sit in their vehicle, don’t pick up feces.
Nothing wrong with this park just a tad run down. While here there was 1 lady with her dog, but didn’t have the gates closed and she was sitting in her truck with her dog just wandering around. Not an issue, the pooch was pretty friendly and kept to itself. There we’re 2 different pen areas with gates leading in and out. The area looks like they do yard maintenance on it occasionally. I did see a pretty deep hole in the middle of the 1st pen. Its located in a larger park and activity park area. They have a few metal picnic scattered about. There was a little over growth that did provide some shade as well. There is a long dirt driveway that does separate it from everything else. If you needed a place to let your dog run around for a bit, you could do worse than this spot.