North Park Community Dog Park — Attraction in San Diego

Visited this newer dog park with my ~12 pound pup for the first time recently. I'm really grateful that it was built, and the fencing and gates all seem to be in great condition. It also has separated small and large dog enclosures, which is a must for us.

I can't speak to the condition of the large dog enclosure, but the small dog enclosure is mostly loose dirt and has some sizable holes in the ground. Dogs that are watching where they're going should be fine, but my little punkin got the zoomies, stumbled into a hole about half as big as her, and face planted hard into the dirt.

She turned out to be okay, fortunately, but could easily have injured a leg. That would've been my fault if it had happened, not the park's, as it's my job to evaluate conditions and keep her safe. But if your punkin is not the most nimble or is prone to being possessed by the zoomies, the small dog enclosure might not be the safest place while those...

Although I really do like this park, I couldn't give it 4 stars for two reasons:

Although both the small dog & big dog sections are a decent size and there are a couple of nice trees in the big dog section - there is absolutely no place to sit down. Not all of us are young and able to be on our feet without needing to sit after a while.

Unlike the majority of the dog parks in San Diego, this is the second dog park in the North Park/Normal Heights area that was recently built without a water fountain for dogs and people. There are water fountains in the main parks and bathrooms, however the sinks are too shallow and the fountains are incredibly slow, if they work at all.

It is my opinion that ALL dog parks should have easily accessible water for the canines and seating of some kind for the humans. And...

Only has an entrance on the north end, which is kinda annoying considering how long the fencing is. Also no water supply inside the park itself, the nearest dog fountain is the one in the middle of the community park.

Keep an eye out for debris, especially on the south side. I consistently find little pieces of glass, possibly left over from when they tilled the ground.

On the bright side, there is always a huge amount of tennis balls for the pups since there are tennis courts in the community center.

Overall, it's nice to have an offleash area in North Park, but it could do with some...