Dog Walkers in Park Merced (Parkmerced)

Situated on the western side of San Francisco near the coast, Parkmerced is a designed neighborhood of high rise apartments and low rise garden apartments with 3221 residential units and 9000 residents. Situated adjacent to San Francisco State University, many students and school staff make their home here and walk to their studies on campus. There is a small commercial area located on the east side of the neighborhood with groceries, a restaurant, and different services. Some services are also available on the university campus to the north. 

The weather in Parkmerced is generally warm and dry, however, rain and fog are frequent in the winter and fog in coastal regions frequently occur in summer as well. Reduced visibility when pedestrians are walking with their dogs can be an issue as impaired driver visibility makes pets, which are low to the ground, more difficult to see. Be vigilant when walking in foggy conditions and keep your pet leashed.

Parkmerced is a residential complex of high rise apartments and multi-family garden apartment buildings on extensive grounds with interconnected roads and paved pedestrian paths. The properties have courtyards and landscaped lawns and trees. The university is located to the north and a golf course and Lake Merced are on the western boundary. Another golf course lies on the neighborhood's southern edge and a large roadway with train tracks borders the east. The Pacific Ocean lies not far from the community's western border and weather including fog and cold breezes from the ocean are prevalent here. 

The terrain is developed, artificial, flat, and easy to walk about without strenuous effort on the part of pedestrians or their pooches. The neighborhood is laid out in a radiating pattern with the Juan Bautista Circular feature at its center. Traffic in the area is relatively light and off-street parking is available for most residents.

The Parkmerced property, including the Juan Bautista Circle, is landscaped with paved pathways creating greenways between residencies and facilities in the complex. To the west, Lake Merced Park is located just west of Parkmerced and this 614-acre park is complete with a large freshwater lake where boating and fishing are favorite pastimes. Several greenways are present in this park and there is a 4.5-mile paved perimeter trail for pedestrians with dogs, cyclists, and joggers. The park contains natural areas and is a home for migratory birds and other critters which require your pup to stay on a leash to avoid interacting with them. 

There are two off-leash enclosed dog parks to the south of the Parkmerced community. One of the parks contains dog agility obstacles, so if you think your pup has some talent or needs to burn off excess energy, this is a great place to teach your old dog some new tricks.