Grant Park Off Leash Area

The Grant Park Off-Leash Area is a dog park in Santa Cruz, California. The dog park is an area of the city's Grant Street Park where dogs are permitted to be exercised off-leash. Although this is a sizeable public park, it doesn't have a parking lot, and so all visitors need to look for parking in the local neighborhood. While walking through the park, in accordance with state law, dogs must be kept on a leash.

The Santa Cruz parks division have been very generous designating the area for this dog park. The off-leash compounds, there are separate ones for small and large breeds, are really nice, big stretches of grass which have been fenced to prevent any notion of canine runaways. There are some lovely hilly areas and plenty of trees too. Any dog, whatever its size or breed, will be more than content to enjoy some off-leash time here.

There are certain rules for owners and pups to obey when using this off-leash dog park in Santa Cruz. Fully completed vaccinations, parasite treatments and licensing is the expected norm. So is attaching the tags to a dog's collar so they can be clearly seen. It is also expected for dogs to be neutered or spayed. Not much to ask for when the end result is a happy and healthy pup who's going to get some fun free time with his furry friends. 

In Santa Cruz, dogs are not permitted to enter children's playgrounds or go on the sports fields. This is to prevent youngsters from catching infections from dog urine or feces. So parents – do not take your kids in the dog park or it sort of defeats the purpose.

Just because children are not permitted in the off-leash areas doesn't mean owners can leave poop laying around. It all has to be bagged and disposed of properly. If not, when it rains the poop disintegrates, is absorbed by the ground and eventually ends up in the county's lakes and streams. So poop scoop to avoid environmental contamination.