In order to maintain our expanding City Park System in a clean, healthy and safe condition and to help ensure an enjoyable park experience for all park visitors, we seek the help of all pet owners who visit our parks with their animals.

Please be aware of the following pet management rules and responsibilities that are part of the city's overall Park Use Ordinance #4698.

Animals are prohibited from the following park areas:
All Upper City Park areas, all Joe Dancer Park lawn turf areas, and the Rotary Nature Preserve.

Dogs, cats or other domestic pets must be safely contained in a vehicle or on a leash and kept under physical control at all times.

Leashes may not exceed six feet in length when an animal is within 100 feet of other park visitors. With the exception of police canines in the course of duty, off-leash animals are not permitted. (Class D Park Violation*).

Pet owners must immediately and thoroughly remove all solid animal waste deposited in the parks by their animals (Class D Park Violation*). Pet owners may be asked to remove their animals from any City park if they fail to perform this duty.

Pets are not allowed within any playground or play structure area.

Owners may not tie up any animal in their custody or control and leave them unattended (Class D Park Violation*).

Except where specifically authorized by the director, horses or other livestock are not allowed into a park area (Class D Park Violation*).

* Class D Park Violations carry a $100 fine. Pet owners in violation of park ordinance rules may also be restricted from parks for up to 90 days.

For further information, contact Parks and Recreation Director This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  (click name to email), or call 503-434-7359.