NOLA (New Orleans, LA) City Bark--Maggie visits an extraordinary dog park!

As were driving along Route 610 through New Orleans yesterday (the best route to the airport ), we noticed what seemed to be a large dog park just to the north of the highway—just near the Canal St. exit. As soon as we dropped our friends of for their homeward flight, we made a beeline back. We (and Maggie) had been missing the dog parks in the Florida Keys…could this be as much fun?

Turns out that the City Bark, an “off leash” dog park in New Orleans’ lovely and historic City Park (click here for the direct link), is far and away the best dog park we have ever seen. And it’s got an inspiring history. A group of local dog-lovers conceived the project after Hurricane Katrina.

They got organized and started raising funds and exploring designs in 2007. After crafting a joint venture with the city, hiring a “zoo specialist” to landscape and mold the 4.6 acres and researching dog parks across the country, they raised the several hundred thousand necessary to begin building.

It opened in March of 2010, and was chock full of dogs playing in yesterday afternoon’s toasty-warm sun!

Like all well-designed dog parks, it’s double-gated, has several watering stations and a separate yard for small or special needs dogs. It also has tons of glorious shade, restrooms (human) and even a raised dog-washing station so you can clean your pet off before heading home.

We were able to chat with a couple of board members as well as some regular City Bark members (a $35 annual fee allows up to three dogs—they were expecting to sell about 500, but are now up to 3000!). All were beyond thrilled at the result. 

Dogs were romping everywhere—Maggie was off like a shot to find some playmates. People of all ages and from all walks of life grinned and chatted. (Special thanks to board member Mary Ann Cardinale for being so gracious and sharing a bit of the history as well as her enthusiasm.)

Maggie joins her new friend, Simone--a silver Standard Poodle--in a game of chase.

A local shelter group was holding an adoption day, too. It was really, really hard to pass these guys up!

Which one could you love?










City Bark has also made news in trade magazines. Click here for the full story!

Bud and I left dreaming of having such a facility in Concord, New Hampshire--if only!!