Butcher Dog Park

Is there anything so pleasant, so nice, as a well-maintained park? A clean park, one that is nicely landscaped, with neatly trimmed grass, and with playground equipment that doesn't require a tetanus shot before a child gets on the merry-go-round. A park that, to borrow a phrase from Ernest Hemmingway, is "a clean, well-lighted place."

Butcher Park in San Jose, California, is just such a place. It's a nicely sized park, with a recently updated child play area. It has a picnic area that can be reserved. It has a basketball court, a tennis court, a soccer field, and a baseball diamond. The park has a lovely open grass play area that often hosts outdoor concerts in the summer. The bathroom facilities are well-maintained, and the park is well-lit. It's a nice place. It's not the greatest park in the world, but it's a very nice place.

And yet, Butcher Park routinely has visitors from as far away as San Francisco, almost fifty miles away. Why is that? Frankly, it's because of the fact that, while Butcher Park is a nice park, there is a dog park there that is truly phenomenal. 

The Butcher Dog Park is large and well-appointed. There are benches and boulders for climbing and sitting on, and even a couple of picnic tables. It has a poop bag dispenser and a dog fountain for drinking and playing in. It has shade trees, and artificial turf so your puppy doesn't get too dirty from her outing. It has a separate small dog area with the same amenities, though no climbing boulders. 

And it has a team of dedicated volunteers, as well as a very wealthy benefactor: technology pioneer, Steve Wozniak. Butcher Park is quite popular. Your dog will have plenty of other dogs to play with, as well as toys left by volunteers. She will have a wonderful time.