Derry Dog Park

Derry, New Hampshire is quite old, having been first settled in 1719. And though you've likely never heard of it, the town has had an impact on American society, in a quiet, New English way. For instance, Derry was the first place in America where the potato was planted and harvested. Although Derry is a small town of less than 30,000, it has a very nice dog park. 

The Derry Dog Park is large and nicely outfitted with agility equipment. The dog park is divided into two section, with a section for smaller dogs under twenty pounds. The smaller dog section does not have agility equipment, but both sides have plenty of seating. There is a sizeable gazebo in the center of the larger dog section.

There are three secure entrance gates to the dog park and plenty of seating in both sections. There are lots of tennis balls and outdoor toys for your dogs to share, and in the summer, there are kiddie pools for the pups to play in. One thing that is not provided are poop bags, so make sure that you bring your own. If you find that you have extras, there is a place to make donations for other dog people who forgot or who ran out. 

It is always good to find a well-designed dog park, but placement is also important, and Derry Dog Park is definitely well-placed. It is next to the city's animal control building, and so there is plenty of parking. The city also keeps the fencing well-maintained and keeps the parking lot and entry free from snow and ice, which is a great convenience in New England during the winter.

Derry Dog Park is owned by the city, but there is a very strong volunteer community. The community organized for the creation of the park, and they do things like cleaning up, assisting with maintenance, and filling the dog pools. It is free to use the park, but there's a donation box at the main entrance so you can also help.