Squirrel Ridge Dog Park

The Squirrel Ridge Dog Park is an area of the Squirrel Ridge Park in Gainesville, Florida, which has been designated for use as an off-leash canine corral. The entrance to the dog park is reached by walking along a pathway from the parking lot. It's not signposted but can be easily located. 

If pet owners are entering via the main park with their dog on a leash, they're asked to remember that this is a memorial park for victims of crime and are kindly reminded to prevent their pups from defacing the environment. This dog park in Gainesville is a great piece of parkland where dogs can make the most of some off-leash exercise time. 

Small and big dogs both have separate runs to play in which are all fully fenced in with wire mesh. The grass-covered compounds have the additional doggy diversion of a couple of sandpits where they can excavate to their heart's content. Mature trees provide more than adequate shady places in both sections to take a break from romping around, and there are hoses for cooling off or getting cleaned up. 

During the right weather conditions, one part of the big dog run does turn into a mud bath. Dogs love having a good roll in it so owners should be prepared for that eventuality because for most pups it's an irresistible lure. Owners are treated well too in this Gainesville dog park. There are benches set under the trees for them to catch a rest on. 

Though sitting down for long isn't recommended, owners need to keep up with their pup. Fortunately, the parks department have supplied a good quantity of poop bins, and these are distributed all over the off-leash areas. There's not far to walk after scooping poop to bin the used bag here. Bags are not always available on-site so owners should make sure they have a few with them.