There were dogs of all sorts running about. Little chihuahuas and Shih Tzus played with large Labradors and German Shepherds. A person threw a Frisbee — and three pups took off in pursuit. Separately, a cocker spaniel kept her eyes trained on a ball, chasing after it when it was released.
Barnum Park was filled with happy canines Saturday celebrating the return of an off-leash dog park after a previous one closed in 2015. The opening raises the number of Denver Parks and Recreation dog parks to 10.
“We want people to actually come to Barnum and not go anywhere else to have fun,” Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez said. Sitting next to him was his 11-year-old Yorkie, Bella, wearing a pink Broncos jersey and watching the other pups.
The 33,000-square-foot dog park has two sections: a large area for active dogs and a smaller spot for low-energy pooches. The play place is the first step in remodeling a pocket of the 34-acre Barnum Park on North Julian Street between West Fourth Avenue and West Fifth Avenue. Next comes an updated sidewalk, playground, basketball court, tennis court and new futsal court for soccer.
“I’m super excited,” said Toya Juracek, a Burnam resident who walked to the park with her 8-year-old dog as her 3-year-old son biked. “I think it’ll bring our neighborhood together a little better.”
Wendu Lu McGill, also a Barnum resident, said the dog park was a great place for neighbors to meet and interact, which is especially important as newer residents move in. It’s also one of the only dog parks in a large geographical area, she said, noting that it was already being used Saturday by dogs from Athmar Park, Villa Park and Westwood.
Others said having more people in the park makes it safer. Also, it’s a great place for dogs to get some exercise and socialization.
The area’s previous off-leash dog park, near West Sixth Avenue and Federal Boulevard, was closed in 2015 when the city finished a pedestrian bridge over Sixth.
The closure was shortly followed by the shutdown of Josephine Dog Park at West Colfax Avenue and Josephine Street to make way for construction of the Denver recreation center. But Barnum is back, and the Josephine park will be, too, when it opens in the spring as Carla Madison Dog Park, on the northwest part of the rec center.
Although the former Barnum Off-Leash Dog Park had its problems — it didn’t have fences, meaning dogs were prone to invade family picnics, and not everyone cleaned up after their dogs, a problem that contributed to the closure of a popular Evergreen off-leash dog park — many in the community were upset to see it go. That included McGill, who created a petition to save the park on Change.org.
When Denver Parks and Recreation asked neighbors what renovations they wanted to see at the park, the overwhelming response was a dog park. This time around, the dogs are fenced off. There are also baggies and trash cans readily available, as well as signs reminding people to pick up after their pooches.
Denver Parks and Recreation director Allegra Haynes said there have been more and more requests for dog parks across the city over the past four to five years. The city opened a temporary dog park at Speer Boulevard Park that is scheduled to close after Dec. 31. The city will be updating its master plan for dog parks next month, looking to fill gaps.
“There are a lot more dogs in the city,” Haynes said. “If we were doing a dog census, I’d say the dog population is really mushrooming.”
Before you head to a dog park, keep these things in mind:
- All pet waste must be picked up and disposed of immediately.
- Dog parks that aren’t lighted are open from sunrise to sundown daily.
- Lighted dog parks are open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
- Dogs must be spayed or neutered, or have a current Denver Intact Permit.
- Dogs must have current rabies shots and Denver dog license.
