Whitpain Dog Park (member required)

Lovely, well maintained dog park! Has water fountains, poop bags trash receptacles & shaded seating for owners & pets on hot days. Worth the membership.

I’m taking off one star for only one reason: An involved application to the Township (my daughter said it’s like the dogs are applying to college!) plus an entrance fee (NULL for up to 2 dogs for non-residents; ? for residents,) while reasonable – especially considering how large and beautifully-maintained this dog park is – prevents a critical mass of dog owners from joining. The only time there is a reliable crowd at this dog park for your dog to socialize is Saturday and Sunday mornings. The rest of the time the number of dogs and owners using the park can be sparse. With the park so large, sometimes a small number of dogs can be in the park at the same time but not interact, whereas they would interact at a smaller dog park.
Having said that, my dogs love this place. The enormous amount of flat, grassy space (not kidding – if you get low enough at one end of the park you can barely perceive the curve of the Earth bowing the ground towards the other end) makes this fun for them to run around to their heart’s content. I bring their favorite toys because I know there will be plenty of beautifully maintained, flat grassy area to do their favorite catching and running activities. Both dogs have a wonderful time and come home exhausted. And I like the beauty of the big sky at this place that makes me feel calmer and less closed in than other parks. So it’s a great experience – just different than other dog parks.

Great place to take your dog to.

A beautiful and well maintained dog park! There are lots of negative reviews here since a membership is required. I understand the criticisms but if you live close by and are looking for a nice dog park, I think the NULL/year for a membership is well worth it. There is a good crowd of dogs if you come at the busy times (e.g., before people leave for work or before sunset) and the dogs here are well socialized and cared for.

I hear this dog park will be moving soon. I have met some of the nicest dogs (and their hoomans) here! The only negative reviews here seem to be just grumbling that it’s “members only” with no understanding of why such limitations exist. Believe me, it’s not about getting your NULL every year! It’s about screening the dogs that will be there. If you care about your dog at all, you would appreciate knowing that he’s only going to be playing with vaccinated dogs. Ever had your dog attacked by a dog, and the owner can/will not produce proof of rabies vaccinationNULL I have; It’s a nightmare. Literally, waking up worrying about your 4-legged family member because other dog owners are irresponsible. A dog park that validates vaccinations is protecting you and your dog. I join every members-only dog park that I can, just to have safer places for my dog to play. Some of them even require proof of NULLm liability coverage from your homeowners/renters insurance! One I belong to in NY uses key fobs and tracks entry/exit so if there’s an attack, they know who was there at the time. Another one requires a photo of your dog on file. If you’re not willing to do these things to get access to the park, I rest my case that those controls exist for good reason. You can stick with the “free” parks. Believe me, it’s not “free” when your dog is attacked by another dog and the owners disappear in the wind.