Dogwood Run (at Lemon Lake County Park)

It is not unusual for a dog park to be inside a larger park. In fact, many people think of it as a sign of a really good park. And Lemon Lake Park, in Crown Point, Indiana is a really good park. With 403 acres of rolling hills, lots of open space dotted with small groves of trees, places to have picnicking grounds, playgrounds, frisbee golf courses, sand volleyball courts, fishing... this park has everything you would expect. 

But when you include an off-leash dog park, you have what comes close to a perfect park. Dogwood Run at Lemon Lake Park. Doesn't that sound appealing? And it is appealing. The park is large, fourteen acres in all. It is divided into two 7-acre sections. The county swaps the sections so that one is allowed to rest, making sure that both sides of the park are kept in the best shape possible.

Dogwood Run is kept in a natural state. There isn't much that is done to the park beyond regular mowing. There are some benches and poop bags near the front of the gate. The park is double-gated, with a large secure section between the entry gates of the dog park, where you can find water and a place to clean the dust off your dog.

The Dogwood Run Dog Park at Lemon Lake is open year-round. The county does charge an access fee, which they call a "Pooch Pass," to use the park. It covers the park entry fee for Lemon Lake and the cost of parking. The fee is $70 a year for Indiana residents and $90 a year for non-residents. There is a discount for people who are over 60. 

If you wish to try out the park before you commit, you can purchase a one-time entry pass for $10. In order to get the Pooch Pass or the one time try a pass, you will need to bring proof of vaccination. Lemon Lake Park has miles of trails, both paved and unimproved. Dogs are welcome throughout the park, but they have to be leashed when not in the off-leash dog park.