Houston is an ever-changing city and becoming increasingly dog-friendly is just one way that the bayou city has grown. Just 5 years ago, apartment communities capped weight limits for dogs at 25-50 lbs, and we didn’t have many options to let these furry pals release their fury (err…energy.) Today, many communities accept dogs of all shapes and sizes, have on-site dog parks or runs, and the number of facilities provided by the city of Houston or other private organizations has increased substantially. If you’re new to the area, or a new dog owner, regardless of your neighborhood, there’s a park for your pooch!

Galleria

While not formally inside the loop, the Galleria are is still popular and the favorite spot for pooches is Tanglewood Bark Park located at 5801 Woodway Drive. Located in quite possibly the easiest Galleria location to access, over on Woodway, this is a part of a larger park for humans with a jungle gym and and tennis courts. The dog section is about a quarter acre and caters to dogs of all sizes, and offers a drinking fountain to keep those little ones hydrated.

Bellaire/West University

For those of you in the Rice Village, Greenway Plaza, Bellaire or West University, you have access to one of the city’s largest dog parks. Danny Jackson Bark Park is located at 4828 ½ Loop Central Drive and has two separate areas for large and small dogs. Both sides have benches and shade for owners,  and swimming ponds for the furbabies. If that’s not enough, there are water fountains and hydrants, and a dog wash for getting back into the car.

Downtown

If you’re in downtown, one of Houston’s most popular parks is Discovery Green located at 1500 McKinney. The park itself is host to daily activities for Houstonians to enjoy and is nearly 12 acres in size.  The whole park is dog friendly with fountains, pools and hills, but the only off leash areas are the dog runs in the West corner of the park.

Midtown

Midtown isn’t all that large of an area and neither is it’s dog park. The West Webster Park Dog Run is over on 1501 W Webster.  This is a small public park with a little 5000sf dog park in it perfect for a quick stop after a long walk. The park has a drinking fountain to replenish your four-legged friend and a dog wash.

Washington Corridor/Memorial/Allen Parkway

Buffalo Bayou Park located at 1800 Allen Parkway is coming soon! Buffalo Bayou Park has always been an unofficial dog park with an invite to furry patrons to play off leash.  Right now, the city of Houston is working hard to finish the vast renovations to the entire park and finish up building an official dog park for those in the bayou area. Anticipated to be completed in December, the park will have 2 sections for large and small dogs, with water features on both sides (it’s not fun retrieving your furbaby from the bayou!)

Heights                                                                                                          

If you’re over in the Heights and don’t find your back yard to be enough space for Fido, head over to the TC Jester Park in Garden Oaks on  4201 West T.C. Jester Boulevard. It features two huge runs for large and small dogs making up a total of just over an acre. There are drinking fountains for them and benches for you!

Montrose

If you’re closer to the Museum District than Montrose, head over to Ervan Chew at  4502 Dunlavy. This was the very first neighborhood park in Houston to allow dogs to legally run free, off-leash in a designated dog zone. There are two sections separating large and small dogs, drinking fountains and shade trees. Because it is part of a human park, there are restrooms available too.