Portage Lakes Dog Park - New Franklin, OH
Portage Lakes Dog Park – A Dog-Friendly Haven in New Franklin, Ohio
Portage Lakes Dog Park is a popular, pet-friendly destination for dog owners in New Franklin, OH, offering a unique lakefront experience. This dog park features a fenced area that extends into the lake, creating an exceptional opportunity for canine water play. The park is a great choice for dogs who love to swim or dive, with a dock for water-loving pups and plenty of open space for running and fetch. Local owners appreciate that the park is wheelchair accessible and has picnic tables for relaxing visits.
In addition to the swimming area, Portage Lakes Dog Park is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, making it an excellent spot for both kids and pets. While the park is fairly small, reviewers note that there is ample room for active dogs, and the peaceful lakeside setting is perfect for a relaxing outing. With good recall recommended due to lake access, and natural features like ducks and geese, this park offers a quintessential Ohio outdoor experience for pet families.
FAQ
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated area.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? Yes, there is a fenced area, though it extends into the lake and has some openings in the fencing within the water.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the entrance and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? Yes, the park features a lake for swimming with a dock for dogs to jump from.
- Is there seating available for owners? There are picnic tables and some benches, especially near the water, though more seating could be beneficial.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are outhouse-style bathrooms available nearby.
- Is the park good for kids? Yes, Portage Lakes Dog Park is kid-friendly and has nearby trails suitable for families.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is parking near the entrance, and it is wheelchair accessible.
Reviews
Fairly small, but there is dock to jump your puppers off of. The fence extends into the lake, and it’s ok, but 3 of the 4 dogs our group had were able to go around the ends, so it could be longer.
Nice place to let Murdoch run and play in the water. A few other dogs showed up and they had a great time together. I wish there were a few more benches closer to the water.
Make sure your dog has good recall, even through prey drive!
There are holes in the fence in the water.
My dog will find the hole if it exists, and we did not find one outside of the lake opening.
Water is a natural lake with geese, ducks, algae (minimal), and plants. It’s murky.
At first it feels small but once your pup starts running you’ll realize there’s tons of room, the lake opening just isn’t large. I didn’t take photos of all the room behind us.
We had a great experience today. Very peaceful spot. We were mainly by ourselves but the few we did interact with were very nice.
There are bathrooms if you go to the regular people beach there are two outhouses without running water, bring sanitizer. There is also a mcd close to the park entrance.
We went here while they are doing work on bow wow beach in Stow. I think I would go to BWB beach over here, although we will definitely be back!!
We drove a little out of way recently while travelling to southern Ohio to stop here to check out this park with our two dogs. Both dogs are not big water dogs, but the open water and diving dock was a big plus for this location and is definitely a unique feature that we do not have at our local parks. There is some erosion in a few spots due to natural rainwater erosion, so make sure to watch your step, and IF you happen to have a dog with a tendency to stray, this might not be the BEST park since it IS open to water, but use your best judgement on your dog’s preferences.
I bring my dog gear as much as possible during the summer and lob tennis balls out into the lake for him to go get. Always a fun time. Bring sunscreen.