Their owners may be their best friends, but there’s not much most dogs love more than going off-leash, free to chase squirrels and roam with their kind through forests, fields and even streams. Fortunately for South Jersey canines and their owners, there are many stand-out parks that make it easy to exercise outdoors.
Bow Wow Dog Park
2601 Cooper Ave, Pennsauken
Bow Wow Park, at the corner of Cooper and Collings Avenues, features 2 fenced-in areas: one for dogs under 25 lbs, the other for bigger ones. Each has an asphalt path down the center with stones on one side and grass on the other.
Cedar Lake Park
353 Chapel Heights Road, Washington Township
This new dog run, located within the 330-acre Washington Lake Park, opened earlier this year and is a work in progress. Agility equipment, shading over the benches and water fountains are expected to be installed soon. Note that dogs are not allowed in the main park, so the Chapel Heights Road opening is the only option. Outside the dog run they must be on leashes. In addition, Washington Township’s leashed dog park is located along the banks of Grenloch Lake at Ron Heck Memorial Park in Grenloch.
Challenge Grove Park
101 Bortons Mill Road, Cherry Hill
Nestled in a wooded area adjacent to historic Croft Farm, the dog run opened earlier this year. It features both fenced-in wooded trails and an acre of open spaces. There’s also a covered pavilion, picnic tables, water fountains and a waste station.
Connolly Dog Park
605 Centennial Blvd., Voorhees
Within the larger municipal park, the dog run is a fenced-in area divided into 2 sections – one for smaller pups, the other for canines of any size. Both feature water fountains and waste disposal amenities. There are walking trails adjacent to the dog run, but your furry pals must be leashed while on those.
Cooper River Pooch Park
953-969 Park Blvd, Cherry Hill
Pooch Park is a fenced-in gravel and grass space on North Park Drive on the eastern end of Cooper River Park. There are 2 separate enclosed areas, one for big dogs and the other for smaller ones. Features include water fountains for humans and dogs, clean-up bag dispensers and trash cans, and the kicker: lights for nighttime use.
Gloucester County Dog Park
2401 High Hill Road, Logan Township
The 2.5-acre park in Logan Township includes 2 fenced-in sections, one for small dogs less than 25 pounds and one for larger dogs. Amenities include a water fountain, gazebos, dog waste stations and 8 benches.
Laurel Acres Dog Run
1045 South Church Street, Mt. Laurel
The park offers a fenced-off area divided into 2 sections, one for small breeds and the other for larger ones. The park gets muddy, so prepare for dirty paws after rainstorms. In addition, there are walking paths, a lake and a hill that both kids and dogs (leashed) can run or roll down. Canines must be on a leash outside the fenced areas.
Freedom Barks
98 Old Marlton Pike, Medford
With 26 acres of open fields, trails and cedar creeks, Freedom Barks offers lots of freedom for your furry friend. The 2 fenced-in dog runs are supersized (30 x 100 yards) and feature agility equipment, benches and waste disposal amenities. The park has memorial tombstones of dogs who enjoyed the park and passed on. Friends of Freedom Barks even sell merch and engravable rocks, with a portion of sales going towards park upkeep.
Swedes Park Dog Run
735 Westfield Road, Moorestown
The 40-acre dog park, located within 130-acre Swede Run Fields, features 2 fenced-in areas for both big and small dogs, agility structures for physical challenges, a drinking fountain and waste disposal amenities.
Timber Creek Dog Park
1731 Chews Landing Rd, Blackwood
This 9-acre fenced area, located within the 60-acre wooded park, offers access to several paved and unpaved trails, and a small lake for swimming.
Wildwood Dog Park & Beach
3000 Boardwalk, Wildwood
This is the beach for dog lovers. Dogs can swim, play in the sand and run around but must remain on a leash on the beach. Dogs and their people can enjoy the entire area from Glenwood to Maple Avenues plus a large dog park identified by the 30 ft tall fire hydrant. The dog park and beach entrance is located at the street end of Maple Ave., under the boardwalk.
