The park has a jogging trail, hammocks, picnic tables, lounge chairs, swinging benches, regular benches, two huge dog swimming ponds, kiddie pools, a fountain, a gazebo, an agility course, a sunny small dog area, a shady small dog area, a dog shower, indoor restrooms, soft drinks for sale, free bottled water, agility-type obstacles in the main park, park-provided tennis balls, multiple poop clean-up stations with bags and scoopers provided.

Dog Wood Park is part of Dog Central Station which includes a do-it-yourself dog wash called "The Dog Wash", a doggie boutique, called "The Spot Shop", a doggie day care, agility training, and obedience training.

2. Forest Park

Located at 4501 SW 20th Avenue (just a bit north of all the apartment complexes on SW 20th.)

This dog park is also part of a larger park, which has several different sorts of playing fields. The dog park is on the west side of the park and is fairly open. The problem with this park is that the one side of the park that hits a creek is unfenced, which means dogs can get into the water where alligators may potentially be lurking (as with every other bit of water in the state of Florida). This park is popular, due to its location near a lot of apartment complexes, and is a bit on the small side. No entrance fee.

Note of 07-28-06: One of our readers tells us this park is now completely fenced with two single gate entrances. She said there are some nice old shade trees, a few plastic lawn chairs, water fountains for people and dogs and poop bags.

3. Northeast Park

Located at 400 NE 16th Ave (adjacent to the northern edge of the Duckpond neighborhood.)

If you live in the Duckpond area, you can walk to this park if you go north towards 16th Ave. Northeast Park has several different sorts of playing fields, a running track, and trails. The dog park is on the south side of the park, where it meets the northern side of the northeast historic district (i.e. the Duckpond). It’s smaller than Squirrel Ridge (see below) and is mostly wooded, which can be a really good thing during those hot Florida summers. The park has a double gate system (to prevent dogs in the park from escaping when other dogs are entering) and trash cans for dog waste. No entrance fee.

Web Mistress Note: Many thanks to a kind reader for providing all the information about Forest Park and Northeast Park!

03-18-05 Note: Another kind reader wrote with her comments about this park: "This is a great little neighborhood dog park. Lots of friendly dogs. I visit almost daily. There are poop bags, an active water spigot, bowl and short hose available for pets. There are two benches for people to sit on while the dogs romp. There are always plenty of tennis balls and sticks available."

4. Squirrel Ridge Park

Located at 1603 SW Williston Road, just west of where Williston crosses SW 13th Street. Open sunrise to sunset. There is an off-leash area within this park's 17 acres; fenced, trees, parking, water, trash cans. No fees for use.

Note of 07-28-06: A kind reader provides directions to this dog park as follows, "For travelers, this is an easy park to get to from I-75. Take the Williston Road exit and head east. It will be a ways down, on the south side of the road, just west of SW 13th Street."

Note of 11-14-05: Our thanks to a kind reader who tells us the park itself has soccer fields and a playground.

"The dog park is located in the back of the park," she said, "It's a very spacious open field, there are a few large shade trees, and it generally has a good crowd of people and dogs. The park has a double gate system, trash cans for dog waste, and a water spigot."

5. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Located at 4700 S.W. 58th Drive. The entrance is on S.W. Archer Road (State Road 24) and is 1 mile west of I75.

This is not a dog park, but a lovely 62-acre facility developed and operated by the North Florida Botanical Society.

Note of 03-27-06: Thanks to the kind reader who wrote us about this pet-friendly spot. She said, "The gardens offers beautiful, wide walkways, and dogs are permitted on-leash in the park. They even provide water for dogs at several spots along the trail. Kanapaha has long impressed me, because it was one of the first dog-friendly places to visit in Gainesville."

NOTE: We can't visit every area on a regular basis, so if you have information about any dog parks or beaches, or any other animal recreation facilities, in the Gainesville area, please contact FloridaPets.