D'Angelo Park - Chicago, IL
D’Angelo Park Dog Park in Chicago, Illinois
D’Angelo Park offers dog owners a rare treat in downtown Chicago—a spacious, natural grass dog park perfect for letting your pup stretch their legs. The park is known for its large open grassy areas (particularly on the south end) and provides a welcome escape from the concrete jungle, making it ideal for energetic dogs and those who appreciate greenery underfoot rather than asphalt or concrete. There are two main sections: the north end, with some stone and crushed rock surfaces, and the larger south grass hill, giving plenty of room for play.
The north side of the park features separate areas for small and large dogs, benches for owners, water bowls in the warmer months, and lighting for evening visits. Be aware that the fencing has some gaps near the ground, so extra vigilance is needed for adventurous pups. The south section is more natural and open, also offering benches and lighting but less shade and no dog waste bags, so bringing your own is recommended. This dog-friendly spot stands out as one of the few large, grass-filled parks for dogs in the South Loop and is maintained with the help of the local South Loop Dog Park Alliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated dog park areas.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? Yes, the park has fenced areas for dogs, but owners should watch for gaps at the fence base.
- Is there a separate area for small and large dogs? Yes, the north end of the park has a separate area for small dogs.
- Are there water fountains or bowls for dogs? A dog water bowl fountain is available on the north end during warmer months, but owners may want to bring extra water just in case.
- Are poop bags or waste stations provided? Dog waste bags are available in the north end, but owners should bring their own for the south area.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, there are multiple benches throughout both sections of the park.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Shade is limited, especially over benches; most shade comes from high shrubs and surrounding trees.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? Some areas, especially near the south grass hill, can be muddy after rainfall.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, the park is open year-round and is especially nice to visit in the snow.
Reviews
This park is very green and ginormous for dogs. I’m giving it two stars because it’s riddled with rats and the apartment right next to it has a ton of trashcans that stink up the park and attract the rats. It also doesn’t have dog poop bags available and not too much shade for the benches.
Nice park to sit and have lunch. There are multiple benches to use. I appreciate this green space that takes a pause from the surrounding concrete jungle.
Update: Love this park when it is covered in snow!
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No water fountain (as far as I can see). There a gross little puddle of water that needs to be filled because all the dogs are trying to drink from it. Like the “different terrain” but wish it were groomed a bit more.
Also, my dog loves to chase squirrels… but there seems to be a large resident rat that he’s taken interest in!
This is a great dog park in the South Loop. This might be the only large natural grass dog park in the downtown area. There are a few large gaps at the bottom of the exterior fence and ground where a dog could escape through, but the high shrubs separating the inner park and exterior park acts as a barrier for your dog to stay in the main area. It is possible for dogs to wander outside of the main area, so owners should be cautious and keep an eye on their pups so they dont find the gaps. The roads surrounding the park are all pretty busy and frequently traveled, so owners should be aware of their dogs at all times. Other than those gaps and a few mud pits, this area is great for larger breeds to stretch their legs and run around. The grass plain is probably the best part of this park as other parks generally have asphalt or concrete, which are very hard on the pads of their paws. We really enjoy this little gem in the loop. If the city repaired the gaps under the fencing and reseeded the mud pits, I would easily give this a 5 star rating!
D’Angelo Dog Park is a great addition to the area. The Dog Park is spread into two parts 1) North of Congress and West of Franklin and 2) South of Congress and East of Franklin. Getting from one side of the park to another is a short walk on Franklin under Congress. Both of these parks are fairly bare bones relative to other parks in the area like Mary Bartelme Park or Grant Bark Park in the west loop. The north end of the park features a dog water bowl fountain that works in the warm months and a separate area for small dogs. The north section of the park is half small crushed rock and half stone brick and is well lit at night. The south end of the park is more natural with one large open grass hill. The south end of the park was born out of the Wacker Drive redesign. This area could have easily been an empty landscape, but city designers covered the Franklin exit off of Congress/290 with a grass hill and thus was born the park. The south end of the park features a few park benches and is well lit at night but fairly isolated. For those worried about being alone I would recommend the north end of the park which is across the street from the 235 Van Buren condo building. The south loop dog park alliance maintains the north end of the park and provides doggie waste bags, but be prepared to bring your own bags for the south section of this park.