Darden-Towe Dog Park

The Darden-Towe Dog Park is a section of the Darden-Towe public park in Charlottesville, Virginia. There is ample parking available for vehicles in the lot of the main park. This park is a zone designated by the Charlottesville authorities for the off-leash exercising of dogs. It is around one acre in size and fully enclosed with waist high, chain-link fencing. The off-leash area is surfaced with natural grass and there are occasional patches of dirt. There is no separate section for small dogs.

The off-leash area is partially on the side of a hill and some parts of the dog park incorporate a steep incline. The dog park has a good sized staging area for the safe leashing and unleashing of dogs. The Darden-Towe Dog Park is bordered with tall trees but these are outside of the perimeter fencing and don't offer any shade. There are no trees or shade of any kind inside the off-leash area. Fresh water for dogs is available from a faucet and bowls are provided.

The Charlottesville authorities require all pet owners using the facility to have good voice control over their dogs. Owners should be aware that failure to comply with this regulation can result in permanent expulsion from the dog park. All dogs using the off-leash area must be wearing a license and vaccination tag on their collars.

Children below the age of eight years are not allowed in the dog park. Those between nine and fifteen must be accompanied by an adult. It is necessary to be at least sixteen years of age to exercise a dog in the off-leash area. Not more than two dogs are permitted to be exercised by one owner at any one time. Poop bags are not supplied. Owners are requested to bring their own and are obliged to clean up after their dogs. The Darden-Towe Dog Park is a popular dog park and the authorities request pet owners limit their stays to one and a half hours during the busier periods.