Dog walking in Merced

Downtown Merced

Downtown Merced is a concrete jungle and can become pretty busy during the day. Despite all the structures, there are still plenty of green spaces around the neighborhood, which includes the McNamara Park. The park is an 8.7-acre area with plenty of green space, a paved perimeter sidewalk and walking trails throughout the park, soccer fields, and a covered pavilion. Leashed pups are welcome in the park and have access to benches, trash bins, clean-up stations, and water fountains. The Civic Ballpark is another large dog-friendly area, with large fields of grass and open space, two ballfields and a sidewalk that encompasses the park. Dogs must be on a leash inside the ballpark.

Central Merced

Central Merced is bustling with people, but still provides a small park for dog-walkers called Bob Hart Park. This park features a shaded sitting area covered with palm trees, a gorgeous sitting area next to a water fountain, and green lawn to walk Fido. Dogs must remain on a leash inside the area, and have access to benches and trash bins. Right next to the park is the Five Ten Bistro, a delicious eatery offering soups and American courses. The restaurant also offers dog-friendly seating outside at 5 different tables, with umbrellas for shade and complimentary water.

Brookdale

The Black Rascal Strip Park is large, with over 30 acres of green fields, a creek running through the park, and access to a paved bike and walking path that leads outside of the neighborhood. Whether taking a stroll on the trail, or staying inside the park to enjoy some romp and play, Fido will have to remain on a leash. The park also offers features like benches, water fountains, clean-up stations, picnic areas, and trash bins inside the park.

R St/ W 16th St

The R Street and West 16th Street neighborhood has lots of places for pups to run around, like the Applegate Park, one of the largest parks in the city. This lush area is filled with large fields of green grass, forested areas, and long trails that encompass the park and follow Bear Creek along the northern part of the park. There is a zoo and kiddie area in the park that are off-limits to pups, but dogs are welcome everywhere else in  while on a leash, even down to the creek where Fido can splash around. The park has plenty of features too, like picnic areas, benches, trash bins, water fountains, and a clean-up station at the beginning of the park.

Dinkey Creek

The Dinkey Creek neighborhood is on the edge of town, right against the desert landscape that sits outside of the city. Among the sandy terrain is a lush, green area known as the Joe Herb Community Park. The park is 27 acres filled with baseball diamonds, paved walking trails, shady walking paths, and lots of sitting areas. Dogs are welcome inside the park while on a leash, and can even go in the pavilion and picnic shelters. Additional features include water fountains, clean-up stations, benches, and trash bins. If you plan on staying in the neighborhood, the Merced Inn is a dog-friendly motel that allows two pets up to any size, for a small fee.