Kennedy Dog Park — Attraction in Denver

It would have 5 stars if, due to sheer size, there was someone there to, for lack of a better word, "police" it & enforce the safety rules. The issues were that: 1-The 2 seperate areas are EXTREMELY off balance with the "low energy" area being way way smaller, having less of, well, basically everything, and not many dogs in it due to it being much less desirable. 2-Some of the owners are really horrible with equally horrible (agressive and untrained) dogs! Example; I brought my 13lb mini poodle here. He's EXTREMELY well behaved (& well trained), friendly, outgoing, and happy. The first visit I was VERY nervous because the "high energy" area (he's definitely not a low energy dog!) was HUGE! There were quite a few dogs there (Big ones), and I had never been in the position to decide if he should be interacting with way bigger dogs because all of the parks I've been to do have the 2 areas, but 1 is for dogs over 30lbs & the other for under 30lbs. After seeing a few of his interactions with other dogs, I felt confident enough to let him off leash to play. He was doing AMAZINGLY well and loved it! I was so extremely happy!! Unfortunately, due to a bum foot, I had a hard time keeping up with him in this overwhelming huge area, and at one point had fallen behind him in his running around, when suddenly I see him get trampled by a couple of large dogs & then he comes running, full speed (which is very fast) towards me with a bigger dog biting at his neck, right on top of him. When he got to me, I shoved the other dog away. The owner wasn't far behind and I knew this sort of thing was bound to happen, so my dog and I shook it off and went back to playing. This wasn't the issue because it wasn't an aggressive dog or careless owner - That happened when another dog, shortly after the first incident, attacked him! I hit the other dog (to get it off mine!) and picked my baby up. We left, and as I was leaving, I noticed quite a few others leaving as well. One owner informed me that all these people were leaving because the dog who attacked mine had been doing so to multiple dogs and owners didn't feel safe! The sign when you're walking in, says no aggressive dogs, (along with other important guidelines everyone should read) yet this moron owner brings one in and then doesn't pay any attention to what it's doing or stop it! After a few visits my once extremely outgoing & super friendly dog, cowered between my legs, snapping at any dog who came close (even other friendly ones). It was no longer the good experience for him! I was devastated and my heart broke for my baby. THIS is why there should be someone there-to enforce the rules and insure the dogs are safe from crappy and...

It is notably dirty with owners not always picking up after their dogs.

However, I used to enjoy this dog park until I had a bad experience. Someone brought a very reactive dog into the park on a leash. I could see they were hesitant to let the dog off leash. The dog lunged and snapped at a dog that walked up to it. It wiggled out of his harness and the owner held it off the ground. Another person kept saying let it go, she’ll be fine. They let the dog go and it ran after and attacked my dog (who was just standing there), who is very passive. Thankfully he kept running away and only got bit twice, and the owner was able to jump on his dog to stop her (his dog wasn’t wearing a collar). Also thankfully there was only one other dog in the park and they didn’t get hurt.

I understand accidents happen when dogs get too excited, but this wasn’t an accident. The dog was showing signs of reactivity and the owner knew it, keeping it on a leash initially in the park. The owner also denied there was a problem afterwards, saying she was just too excited or going in heat. When I said he shouldn’t bring the dog to the park, he disagreed.

So be mindful of dogs’ behavior when you see them come in. Unfortunately bad owners make some of these pups get a bad rap. This park seems to have more problems with irresponsible owners...

A Hidden Gem for Dogs and Owners Alike: Kennedy Dog Park

🌳🐾 If you're looking for a spacious and friendly spot to let your furry friend run free, Kennedy Dog Park in Southeast Denver is the place! I've been taking my energetic Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sophia, here quite often and we both love it. Despite her age, Sophia still zooms around like a young pup, especially in the well-separated areas designed for different doggy play styles.

What sets this park apart is not just the ample space and the thoughtful division between high energy and low energy zones, but also the great community vibe. It’s located conveniently near Walmart and Kennedy Golf Course, making it easily accessible yet surprisingly uncrowded. I’ve had some truly enriching conversations here with fellow dog lovers, which makes every visit memorable.

Sophia, in her grey and black tactical vest with a dash of pink on her collar and leash, always gets compliments, adding to the day's enjoyment. 🌸🦮

If you haven't been, I highly recommend it. Whether your dog is an old soul or a lively pup, they'll find their stride here at...