Dog Playground (at Leo E. Wilson Community Park)

Dog parks in Laurel, Maryland do not get much better than the Dog Playground in the Leo E. Wilson Community Park. This dog park in Laurel is also known as the Dr. Bruce Morley Dog Playground. Pet owners are required to purchase an annual membership from the Parks and Recreation Administrative Offices before using the facility. There is a fee of $30 for residents and $35 for non-residents.

The Dog Playground might appear basic to pet owners, but it has some quite exciting features for dogs. There is a small incline which increases to a banked up area which is covered in trees. That is great for dogs to climb and sniff around in. The surface of the off-leash area for the bigger breeds is dirt, but it does have a decent spread of bark chippings and leaves. 

The small dog section, which is limited to pups weighing under thirty pounds, is grassed and has some conifer-type shrubbery planted around the border. Whether exercising small or large dogs, all owners are limited to taking no more than two dogs into the dog park. Ball games, such as throw and fetch with tennis balls, are not allowed in the big dog section but are permitted in the small dog area. 

The City of Laurel Park authorities require all dogs using the Dog Playground to have a clean bill of health, be up to date with their shots, and have a county dog license. Aggressive behavior by any dog, large or small, is seriously frowned upon and can result in loss of membership to the Dog Playground at Leo E. Wilson Community Park.

Parents of young children should know that kids under six years of age are prohibited from entering either of the off-leash exercise areas. Seven years old and above are allowed, although the accompanying adult is completely responsible for their safety and good behavior. There are also restrictions in place about taking candy, dog treats or any other type of food inside, so that is a definite no go.