I have been looking for ages for a dog park in Tulsa or the surrounding area but until recently I had been unsuccessful at finding one. Last month, a fellow dog owner told me about an unoffical dog park located in Tulsa - near rhe arboretum at 21st and Harvard. It’s a small park but appears to be well maintained by both the grounds caretakers and the visitors alike. You do need to clean up after your dog as you do in most official dog parks across our country - let’s face it - our dogs are important to us and having a park for them to socialize in is a needed thing, but a dirty one is not.
I term it as unofficial because technically there are no dog parks in Tulsa - at least none that I have found crusing the local forums for that matter. You do have to have your dog on a leash OR he must be controllable without a leash. I have been there 4 times since first finding out about the park and my dog has never had a better time chasing after the other well mannered dogs that are usually there on the weekends. The park is most crowded on a clear, warm day around 5PM - I counted 40 dogs 2 weekends ago at that time. Around 1 or 2 you can expect to find 10 to 20 dogs romping around or catching frisbees on the well manicured lawn. The park can be a little difficult to find for first timers but I found the easiest way to get to the park is to head south on Peoria from Cherry street going through 21st and passing the first entrance to the park just driving ahead to about 24th street and making a left at the entrance to the Tulsa Historial Society and then driving straight till you can’t go any further - That’s where the unofficial dog park is. No worries about having to bring pooper scoopers to the park since the park has an adequate supply of small plastic bags to aid in the disposal of your furred friend’s mess. The park also has a water fountain with a ground level bowl for your thirsty hound to drink from.
The park is not gated but it is fenced in with two open entrances on either side. You may be worried that your pouncing
pooch may run off through the open entrances but he will be more than happy to stay inside because there is just too much fun for him to have with all of the other dogs.
I met dog owners from Broken Arrow, Sand Springs and all parts of Tulsa so it is apparent that word is catching on about the park quickly.
If you are a dog owner and are ever at the park, I’ll be the short guy with the black pug named Emma - sometimes I bring a lab or two as well depending on whether or not I am taking care of one that week.
UPDATE: MAY 11, 2008
I went for a visit to the park again this weekend and was told by several folks that several tickets were issued to pet owners that did not have their dogs on a leash. The tickets started at $75.00 each and it was reported that at least 20 were issued. The tickets were issued this past Thursday and Friday. I think it is an outrage that tickets were issued at the park whether the tickets were issued legally or not. These are DOGS and their owners, not criminals but apparently the officers that issued the tickets felt otherwise. Because of the incident this past week, visitors to the park have expressed an interest in a legal and of course, official dog park. It is evident that the unofficial dog park at the arboretum has attracted many dog owners and I might add, VERY RESPONSIBLE dog owners… so if the unofficial dog park has been working up until the incident this week, then why doesn’t the city of Tulsa opt for a legal dog park where families, friends and their dogs could gather together. Heck the revenue the city of Tulsa would make on the potential dues and fees should be enough to get even a smal park opened. If you are a dog owner and if you are interested in joining the Tulsa Bark Park Yahoo group, to discuss this topic and lend support to fellow dog owners, please use the sign up link below.
Related: Channel 2 News story - DOG PARK CONCERNS IN TULSA
UPDATE MAY 18, 2008
Please help us get an official Dog Park underway. We’ve had several people join our Yahoo group but the power is in numbers. We need more of YOU. If you are interested in helping us petition the city of Tulsa for an OFFICIAL DOG PARK in Tulsa, Please join as soon as you can by clicking the link below.
Click to join tulsabarkpark
Vinnie
Your love of animals has been from “day one Vin!” The Dog Park is a true boon to Tulsa, and Oklahomans have our respect and support for having established one. Too many times, our furry friends have been forgotten and abused. It takes kind hearts and deep souls to make and preserve a place for them.
Emma is a SWEETHEART! And we’re certain that she gives you and others great joy for the love and kindness you’ve given her.
Hope every day is a sunny day for you and all others who are animal lovers, and who give of their time and caring!
Thank you for sharing this goodness with us. God Bless!
Lovingly,
Mom and Dad & Butterscotch, Furry Friend
(alias… Lady Sarah Bernhardt)
We New Jerseyans SALUTE Tulsa Oklahoma!!!!!!
I want you to be aware of the committe that is forming to get a “legal” dog park. We need memebers. We have donors who are willing to donate money but we need to become a larger comittee Tulsa will take seriously. I will say that Mayor Kathy Taylor is not in favor as she thinks it is a “downward slope to cattle and horses being trodded through.” The dog owners of Tulsa need to get together and really support this movement.
FYI…there is a very small, privately owned, dog park in Tulsa. It is not very widely advertised…I don’t know why. We have official Boxer Meet Up’s there the first Saturday of every month. We’ve been meeting there for almost two years.
The dog park is located beside Woodland West Animal Hospital off I-75 and the Jenks exit. The park is quite small and is used by the vet clinic/doggie day care (via overhead bridge) several times per day to give their customer’s (dogs) a place to run and play.
It is about the size of 1/2 a football field, totally fenced with approximately 12 foot high white fencing. It originally contained a gazebo and some benches, but they are not in a good state of repair anymore (I think it is from the clinic’s usage.) This park also contains a good size in-ground doggie pool for the dog’s to swim in or just a place to sit on the pool steps and stay cool in the warmer months. They do provide doggie bags for poop pick-up.
We, as a group, are allowed free access by the owner of the clinic for our once a month usage, but I believe they have a fee and you have to call ahead for private usage. (After all, this is a privately owned park.) We also provide them with signed liability releases for every member that brings their dog into the park.
Yes, not the “best” dog park in the world, but it is a place you can go and let your dog off-leash until something better is established. If anyone is interested you can contact Woodland West Animal Hospital for further information.
If you are interested in joining Tulsa Boxer Meet Up, feel free to contact me at boxerlady [at] gmail [dot] com for further information.
I do hope we are able to get a legitimate dog park in Tulsa, it is sorely needed. There are many local rescue groups that would probably be interested in supporting any movement to procure a park, as it has been discussed amongst us for some time.
Interestingly, I was just in New Jersey a few weeks ago to visit my son and his wife who enjoy their “doggie child” and my granddoggie - Boxer, Sammie. We went to a HUGE free dog park that ran over dozen’s of acres; including woods, streams, and miles of land for the dogs to roam and explore. We met some of the nicest people and their dogs; Boxers, Labs, Westies, American Bulldogs, and beautiful mixes. As I explained to them, I am so envious! We don’t have ANY place in Tulsa to let our dogs roam and just be dogs!
I have to say that we Tulsan’s salute New Jerseyan’s for your love and respect of dogs too! I can say first hand that like many cities across America you’ve shown your devotion by making sure there is a place where your dogs can just be dogs. Any help or suggestions you have on helping us to attain the type of dog park(s) you have in Jersey would be greatly appreciated!
Adena,
Thanks much for the information. I am glad you enjoyed your stay in my home state. Tulsa is my home now but I do get back east from time to time and yes, we need an official dog park here too and that’s what many in our community are working on now.
Vinnie
http://tulsabarkpark.com/
Nice place. No kids under 12 allowed however.