Taking your dog on a W-A-L-K? In these 10 cities, the P-A-R-K is just around the corner.
Ahead of National Walk Your Dog Day on Sunday, Feb. 22, HomeFetch analyzed publicly available data from the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit that studies park access and public spaces, to identify U.S. cities that combine strong park proximity with a healthy supply of dog parks.
This ranking is based on two measures:
- The share of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park, according to the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore index.
- The number of off-leash dog parks per 100,000 residents, based on TPL’s City Park Facts data.
The result highlights not just where green space exists, but where cities support the daily walks that benefit both dogs and their owners.
Below are 10 cities that stood out nationally.
10. Tampa, Fla.
In Tampa, dog life often plays out along the water. The Tampa Riverwalk links downtown to parks with designated off-leash dog areas, including Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
For a larger regional dog park, Hillsborough County’s Logan Gate Dog Park offers separate areas for large and small dogs.
By the numbers: TPL data shows 64% of Tampa residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The city has 16 dog parks, or about 3.9 per 100,000 residents. But while its park access rate is below average among the 100 largest U.S. cities, Tampa still provides ample space for dogs to stretch their legs.
9. Norfolk, Va.
Norfolk operates more than a dozen designated dog parks, including Ghent Dog Park, Lafayette Dog Park and Maple Avenue Dog Park. Most are fenced and separated for large and small dogs, with benches and water access.
The city’s waterfront trail system and neighborhood parks also provide consistent on-leash walking space.
According to TPL data, 78% of Norfolk residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The city has 13 dog parks, or about 5.5 per 100,000 residents, one of the higher concentrations among large U.S. cities.
8. Boise, Idaho
Boise’s dog-walking infrastructure is unusually abundant for a city its size. The parks department lists multiple fenced off-leash areas, including Dog Island at Ann Morrison Park, Military Reserve Dog Park and Bowler Park. Expansive green spaces such as Julia Davis Park and the Boise River Greenbelt provide additional on-leash routes.
TPL data shows 74% of Boise residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The city has 22 dog parks, equal to about 9 per 100,000 residents — the highest concentration in TPL’s ParkScore dataset.
7. Chicago
Chicago’s dog-walking environment is shaped by its large network of dog-friendly areas overseen by the Chicago Park District. These include Noethling (Grace) Park, commonly known as “Wiggly Field,” Lake Shore East Dog Park, Puptown at Margate Park and Norwood Dog Friendly Area. Many feature fenced play zones, water stations and separate areas for small and large dogs.
Across the city, these spaces sit within broader parks that also offer walking paths and trails. And during designated seasons, Montrose Dog Beach provides off-leash lakefront access.
TPL data shows 98% of Chicago residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, one of the highest rates nationally. The city maintains 32 designated dog parks, or about 1.2 per 100,000 residents — a lower concentration than leaders like Boise or Portland. Chicago stands out, however, not for the sheer number of off-leash sites, but for how widely its parks are distributed, giving most residents and their dogs reliable, close-to-home green space for daily walks.
6. Seattle
Seattle’s dog-walking options include city-operated off-leash areas and an expansive park system spanning roughly 6,400 acres. Trails wind through Discovery Park, Golden Gardens Park and along the Burke-Gilman Trail, offering miles of on-leash routes.
Regionally, Marymoor Park in nearby Redmond, serves as one of the largest off-leash destinations in the metro area.
According to TPL data, 99% of Seattle residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, and City Park Facts data shows about there are 1.8 dog parks per 100,000 residents.
5. Washington, D.C.
Washington’s designated parks include Newark Street Dog Park, Walter Pierce Dog Park, Shaw Dog Park, the Park at LeDroit and Takoma Dog Park — fenced neighborhood spaces burrowed within a city that’s better known for monuments and museums.
TPL’s ParkScore index shows 99% of District residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, well above the national median among large cities. City Park Facts data shows about 2.75 dog parks per 100,000 residents, giving the capital both near-universal park access and a steady supply of places where dogs can walk (or run).
4. Minneapolis
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages more than 7,000 acres across 185 parks, along with more than 100 miles of walking trails that loop through neighborhoods and around the city’s chain of lakes.
That density is reflected in the data. TPL reports 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. City Park Facts data shows nine designated dog parks, or about 2.1 per 100,000 residents.
While Minneapolis does not lead in dog park count, its widespread access to parks and trails boosts its overall ranking.
3. Portland, Ore
Portland has one of the country’s denser systems of parks and off-leash areas. Portland Parks & Recreation lists more than 30 designated off-leash areas on its website, ranging from neighborhood parks such as Fernhill Park to riverfront spaces like Sellwood Riverfront Park.
TPL data shows Portland has about 5.7 dog parks per 100,000 residents, placing it near the top nationally. About 89% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, and the city’s 11,000-plus acres of parks and more than 150 developed parks contribute to that reach.
2. Arlington, Va.
Arlington County operates more than 150 parks within 26 square miles, along with paved, dog-friendly trails including the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and Four Mile Run Trail. The county maintains designated off-leash areas such as Shirlington Dog Park, one of the larger fenced dog parks in the Washington metropolitan area.
TPL data shows 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a rate that’s matched by just a handful of cities. City Park Facts data shows about 4 dog parks per 100,000 residents, and while that per-capita figure trails leaders such as Boise and Portland, Arlington’s compact size and near-universal park access elevate its overall standing.
1. San Francisco
San Francisco’s park system is embedded within its compact 49-square-mile footprint. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department manages more than 3,400 acres across more than 220 parks, including Golden Gate Park, which spans more than 1,000 acres.
TPL data shows San Francisco is one of three cities where 100% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, but it’s the only one of those cities to appear in HomeFetch’s top 10, as this ranking also weighs dog park availability per capita.
San Francisco has about 5 dog parks per 100,000 residents. While not the highest in the dataset, the combination of universal park access and abundant off-leash infrastructure produces the most consistent walkable environment for dog owners among the cities analyzed.
