Rio San Gabriel Dog Park - Downey

The Rio San Gabriel is a public dog park located at the Rio San Gabriel Park in Downey, California. In addition to the dog park, the Rio San Gabriel Park is home to ball diamonds and basketball courts, picnic areas with shelters, a playground, and public restrooms. The off-leash dog park can be found on the south-east side of the Rio San Gabriel Park. The dog park was opened in November 2010. Despite its small size, the dog park is a popular destination for dog owners living in the area. 

This rustic dog park is 200 foot by 200 foot in size and has a separate section for small dog breeds who are under 15 inches tall. The small dog area’s surface is grassy while the large dog run is made up of both grass and sand so make sure to pack a towel for your dog's paws as playtime gets messy. In addition to the above, both dog runs feature three benches each that owners can relax on as they keep their dogs in sight during playtime. 

Though there are trees growing in and around the dog park, there is not much in terms of shaded seating which is something to keep in mind when picking a day to visit the park. Since the dog park is quite small, it is highly recommended for dog owners to take their canine companions on a walk before coming to the dog park as this reduces the chance of dogs being over-excited in a small space and thus helps avoid potential canine confrontation. 

The Rio San Gabriel features drinking fountains that make sure that both the two-legged and four-legged patrons remain hydrated throughout their visit at the dog park. Hand sanitizer and waste bag dispensers are available as well and help encourage dog owners to keep this park well maintained by cleaning up after their canine companions. However, the doggie bag dispenser is not refilled often enough considering the popularity of the park, so don't forget to bring your own plastic bags just in case.