Battle Creek Dog Park — Attraction in Maplewood

I love dog parks, my dog loves dog parks, but neither of us love this dog park. First of all, the parking lot is super unsafe - there is frequently broken glass, and there are many signs warning you of break-ins. The dog park itself is just...gross. This area of the cities does not have as many dog parks as the south metro, so I would venture to guess the crazy high usage is what leads to the "gross"-ness of this park.

The whole park smells horrible. There is poop is everywhere (despite bags and waste stations also everywhere). Every source of water is scummy, mucky, swampy, and just nasty. With the winding trails and sections of forest/brush, many people lose track of their dogs that don't belong in a dog park to begin with - and frequently a snarling, barking, biting dog will jump out of the bushes, no owner in sight. It's also a popular spot for parents to bring young children, who of course mix very well with poorly behaved and socialized dogs.

I end up coming here once a year, thinking of my last experience with rose-colored glasses, "Oh, it can't be that bad, it's such a nice space! With all the trails and water!" No, it just gets worse every year. On my visit this past summer, I watched a shirtless man kick a small dog. A teenage girl was doing her graduation photo shoot by one of the swamps, and a member of her group (mom?) was hitting dogs that got too close in the face with a stick and screaming at them. I saw a husky run by me with blood on its side. I was there for about...

Yesterday, I strolled through the large and well-attended Battle Creek Dog Park. I was meeting my friends (and their dogs) there, and to enjoy some exercise outside.

NOTE: There are TWO parking lots to the Dog Park, one on Upper Afton and one on Lower Afton. Mistakenly, I waited for my friends in the wrong parking lot!

The dog park is extremely large and sprawling. It is heavily wooded, with lots of scenic walking trails throughout. There are also extensive ponds and water areas, all frozen right now, of course. It is one of the nicest dog parks in the region, according to my friends - and I can understand why!

It was quite heavily attended, with literally 100's of dogs and owners rambling through the park. There were ample rest areas for humans and dogs, lots of trash containers, it was well-fenced and secure. Several areas were centrally located to allow people to hang out together, and watch their dogs frolic. I also saw several dog dishes placed, with fresh water provided by people who packed it in.

The dog park was extremely clean and well maintained. I was super impressed with the scenic nature and the overall size of the park! It is part of the Battle Creek Regional park, and hiking trails ajoin the parking lots with the rest of the park.

In the past I have visited 3 or 4 other dog parks with my friends, and this one impressed me the most with its overall size, cleanliness, and rolling wooded and water-filled environment. Fun exercise for both...

I attached images of the small dog park. There is nowhere to run or play ball because it is overgrown with weeds. It is so thick in there that I couldn't find my dog and I heard a strange sound from the middle of the forest. My puppy had found a bird and was eating it and I couldn't get to her because it was so thick I had to wait for her to finish the bird... It's a nice idea to have a small dog park for little dogs to not get injured and plowed over in the big park which was what was happening. But if it's not going to be cared for or have areas to walk with your dog except for the concrete strip in the middle, it's almost like a waste of space. Space that could be very valuable and helpful for people who want to exercise their dogs and may not have their own yard. Please help keep this area nice and not overgrown with thorny plants and invasive species. Whoever has the power to keep this area useful to the community. Please do that! Also, I have lost three chuckit balls and one tennis ball because it is impossible to find the ball for the dog. Once I throw it in it lands and...