Off Leash Areas for Dogs The Houston Parks and Recreation Department welcomes you and your dog to enjoy the vast amount of park space in the Bayou City. However, you are required to have your dog on a leash at all times .
Our leash law is one of the tools that permit dogs and dog owners to visit a park without creating safety concerns, disturbing natural resources, or diminishing a park visit for those who are less comfortable around dogs.
We know that most dogs love to run free and most dog owners would like to provide their pets with the opportunity to do so. The city of Houston Parks and Recreation Department maintains three dog parks for you and your four-legged friend(s) to enjoy, Ervan Chew Park and Maxey Park.
Houston Parks and Recreation Department Dog Parks
Levy Park , located at 3801 Eastside, is the newest addition to Houston's dog park facilities. Acquired by the city in 1942, it was renovated in two phases by the Upper Kirby District and Intown Chamber of Commerce. The most recent renovation was finished in 2006 and includes a designated dog run. The new dog park is near the updated play equipment and the softball field. Being surrounded by dog-filled apartment complexes, Levy Park should be a popular destination for the area's canines and their humans.
Ervan Chew, located at 4502 Dunlavy (Key Map 492Z), was the first neighborhood park in Houston to allow dogs to legally run free, off-leash in a designated dog zone. The dog zone is located adjacent to the picnic area and swimming pool. It is a fenced-in space, approximately 9,000 square feet in size and is designed to allow dogs to exercise freely. The Ervan Chew Park dog zone was the first step in providing an area for off-leash dogs. The Friends of Ervan Chew Park, a neighborhood organization, provided funding for the dog zone. Ervan Chew was dedicated in May of 2004,
Maxey Park , located at 601 Maxey Road (Key Map 496C), was the second official dog park in the Houston Parks and Recreation system. Dedicated in September of 2004, this community park designated approximately 12 to 13 acres of parkland as a place for dogs. The area features a fenced-in space for the dogs to exercise off leash, and amenities include doggie drinking fountains, seperate areas for large and small dogs, a doggie shower, a waste disposal station and benches throughout the space. Maxey Park Bark and Run Park was funded in part by the Houston parks and Recreation Department and revenue generated from from the 2003 City of Houston Birthday Celebration, hosted by then council member Annise Parker.
As funding becomes available and through partnerships with the Houston Dog Park Association, civic clubs and other dog owner organizations, more dog parks are planned in the future.
Please remember that dogs are not allowed, even with a leash in children's play areas, or on organized athletic fields.
