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While Santa Ana, a city in California’s Orange County, doesn’t currently have any official dog parks, the local paper1 recently reported that an official plan is in place to construct one. Santa Ana’s first dog park won’t be built until late 2023 at the earliest, so in the meantime, pet owners in the city will need to travel a bit to find space for their pups to roam. Here are 10 great off-leash dog parks near Santa Ana, CA you can visit today.
The 10 Wonderful Off-Leash Dog Parks Near Santa Ana, CA
1. Jacaranda Dog Park
A newer dog park located approximately 10 minutes from Santa Ana
Artificial turf play surface
Limited parking
Water, waste bags, benches, and agility obstacles are available
Watch the weather—there’s not much shade
2. Orange Dog Park
Also called Yorba Dog Park, it’s located approximately 10 minutes from Santa Ana
Grass and dirt playing surface with a separate small dog area
Parking, water fountains, restrooms, waste bags, and seating are available
Close to the freeway, which is convenient but noisy
Limited shade, it can get hot here
3. Garden Grove Dog Park
A smaller dog park, found around 15 minutes from Santa Ana
Shade, water, restrooms, and waste bags are available
Grass playing surface with a separate small dog area
On-site parking is shared with a nearby rec center, skate park, and athletic fields
4. Costa Mesa Bark Park
Conveniently located just off the 405 freeway, about 15 minutes from Santa Ana
Grass and dirt playing surface with a separate small dog area
Water, seating, parking, waste bags, trash cans, and plenty of shade are available
Illuminated for nighttime play
Often hosts special events, including all-breed meetups
A slightly secluded dog park around 20 minutes from Santa Ana
Your pup will need a current city dog license
Can get crowded on weekends
Restrooms, parking, trash cans, waste bags, and shade are available
Limited seating
9. Central Park Dog Park
Found approximately 25 minutes from Santa Ana in a huge, popular city park
Restrooms, dog wash area, trash cans, waste bags, and parking are available
Dirt and wood chip playing surface often leads to messy dogs
Keep dogs on a leash elsewhere in the park
10. Huntington Dog Beach
Off-leash dog beach around 30 minutes from Santa Ana
Some free street parking in nearby neighborhoods or on-site for a fee
Waste bags are limited
Located along a busy highway
Water is available
Conclusion
At least for the next year or so, Santa Ana dog owners will have to use one of these 10 off-leash areas near the city. According to city officials, the new dog park was designed with input from pet parents and will include such features as a water play feature and park section set aside for older and disabled dogs. No matter where you take your dog to play, remember to pick up after your pup and always keep them under control.
Featured Image Credit: barinovalena, Shutterstock
Written by
Elizabeth Gray is a lifelong lover of all creatures great and small. She got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. Elizabeth spent more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse before stepping away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her hard-earned knowledge (literally–she has scars) with our readers. Elizabeth lives in Iowa with her family, including her two fur kids, Linnard, a husky mix and Algernon, the worldʻs most patient cat. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching all sports but especially soccer, and spending time outdoors with her family.…Read more