Tempe, once known as Hayden’s Ferry, is a city in Arizona with a population of over 160,000. Like many cities in the state, Tempe has a huge amount of open space and this is one of the reasons why there are 5 parks where dog owners can take their pet for a day of exercise and play. Below, we look at what each park has to offer.
Creamery Park
This is the smallest of the parks but is perfect if you have a small dog. You can find Creamery Park on 8th Street & Una. It opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. Its amenities include tables, benches, poop bags, shade trees, lighting armadas, and even a basketball court if you decide to get in some exercise yourself.
Jaycee Park
Take a trip to 5th Street & Hardy Drive in order to get to Jaycee Park. Kids under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult and you are not allowed to bring more than 3 dogs. Additional rules include repairing damage caused by your pet, while all owners must remain in the enclosure at all times. No food is to be brought within the dog run. Facilities include a playground, special dog park, community room, and grills.
Tempe Sports Complex
This is also known as the P. Ben Arredondo Sports Complex and is located at 8401 S. Hardy Drive. It offers drinking fountains for you and your pet while owners must have their dogs under voice control. As well as offering a beautiful park for your dog to play in, Tempe Sports Complex also offers amenities for the whole family, including a baseball diamond, soccer field, skate and bike track, plus softball fields.
Papago Park
This is a wonderful location for your dog and can be found at Curry Road and College Avenue. As well as having lights for late night walks and trees to shade you from the sun, Papago Park offers trash receptacles and poop bags to clean up after your pet answers the call of nature. While your pet enjoys his exercise and freedom, you can enjoy the lake, ramadas, a volleyball court, and picnic tables.
Mitchell Park
Travel to Mitchell Drive & 9th Street to take in this glorious park with its soccer field, softball facilities, BBQ grills, and picnic tables. If you can tear yourself away from these amenities, you can also watch your dog enjoy the wide open space available to him with protection in the form of double gated entry. Like most parks, Mitchell Park opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. It is unfortunately not open on Mondays because of maintenance work.
To enjoy the Off Leash areas of these parks to the full, you must be prepared to adhere to all the park rules. For example, your dog(s) must be vaccinated and wear a fully visible license. You are also responsible for the behavior of your dog and must remove him at the first sign of aggression. When all pet owners obey the rules, the dog parks of Tempe are a great way to spend some quality time with man’s best friend.
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