Horner Park Dog Park — Attraction in Jefferson Township

We loved how large this dog park was. There is a separate area for smaller dogs, which makes for safer and more comfortable play. Wood chips, water, pools, shade, and grass all made it perfect and not too hot for our black pup. Our dog enjoyed meeting new friends and chasing after tennis balls.

The only downside to any dog friendly area are owners who don’t pay attention and listen to their dog’s body language. When we got there, there were two dogs with stiff bodies who were pinning down other dogs, biting down on their necks, and did not let go even though the other dogs were whimpering and struggling. While they were thankfully all fine physically, the owners of the dogs who were pinned ended up leaving while the other dogs stayed. It was terrifying to watch. And even worse that the owners stayed with their dogs in the park even after they bullied other pups. Another person later repeatedly had to yell at their dog for snapping at others..when they could have just removed their dog from that situation. Thankfully, the park was large enough that we could make sure our dog was far, far away from the dogs who shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Not all dogs enjoy dog parks. If you decide to take your dog to a dog park, make sure you are knowledgeable about your dog’s body language and watching them closely. Please listen to your dog if they are exhibiting any signs of discomfort, not wanting to be there, or bullying behavior. It can be kinder and safer to your own...

We're here almost every day as we live in the neighborhood and it's a fun place for our dog to run. As far as I can tell, it's the largest dog park in the Chicago Park District system, and also one of the only ones that isn't just a concrete patch with some gravel scattered in it.

Never really have any problems with other dogs. Most owners are good about policing their own dog's behaviors. Some people are helicopter parents about the whole thing. If tails are wagging, let the dogs play. Don't worry about barking, or if things look a little rough. The pack will sort itself out if it needs to. Some families also show up and let their kids run amok. Saw a little dude crying because he got taken out by a dog tornado, and I can't say I was terribly sympathetic. It's a dog park, not a people park. Stand by something solid and you won't get run over.

I'll say I'm not really sure about all of the "improvements" they want to make. The small dogs do fine with medium and big dogs. Astroturf? Why? It's fine as what it is...a patch of dirt and grass that dogs get to run through. But I'm not in charge, and having a fountain seems like it'll be nice. I'm mostly just happy to have a spot close by to...

Spacious park. Friendly and well behaved dogs and responsible hoomans. Plenty of parking and a 7-Eleven is across the street if you need to buy extra water. (There is a water source for dogs but it’s turned off in colder months.) Only 2 downsides are that:

1. there are a couple holes that collect water and mud. Someone should come out occasionally to fill in the problem spots with mulch and/or dirt, especially, the one surrounding the bench. Left untreated and the holes will just get bigger/deeper. That’s also a safety concern.

2. there are no trash cans inside the dog area. There should be one on each end of the play yard. (If you’re worried about it getting knocked over, consider securing it with a bungee cord or a chain. Or you could put it on the outside but up against the fence so that pet parents and sitters can just reach over and discard the used...