Off Leash Area Expansion Study

Please provide your feedback through our online survey, or visit us at one of the upcoming pop-up events:

Please provide your feedback through our online survey. We are particularly interested in hearing a) how you and your community may be currently using these specific sites, and b) what you see as the pros and cons of an OLA being constructed at these sites in the future.

This input, in addition to our study findings and factors like geographic equity, will help shape the future expansion of our OLA system and determine which sites will be prioritized for the available funding. The other sites that are not immediately prioritized will function as a blueprint for the department in future years as more funding becomes available for the construction of additional OLAs.There will be additional outreach opportunities at the selected sites to further engage with nearby neighbors and frequent park users.

The connection between humans and our furry friends runs deep in our collective history. From our likely role in their slow evolution from grey wolves into dogs around 15,000 years ago, to the fact that many households today are home to one or more dogs, the increased part dogs play in our society and day-to-day life is undeniable. With this comes the need for increased access to amenities for dogs that allow their owners to exercise and socialize them, make connections with others, and generally raise healthy and happy pets.

SPR is among other leading cities in providing access to legal off-leash areas, constructing the city’s first Off-Leash Area (OLA) in 1997 and growing the system’s footprint to roughly 26 acres across the city today. However, with the exponential growth in the number of dogs we have witnessed among Seattle residents in the last decade, SPR recognizes the need for, and has been working toward, an expanded OLA system. While we have had some success gradually increasing the number of OLAs over the years in partnership with the community, the current situation called for a more concrete and robust response. The OLA Expansion Study, which looked at over 30 sites across SPR's system to determine suitability for OLA development, is one strategy in that response.

The map below illustrates existing OLAs (green dots). The blue dots indicate locations of three new sites already in the planning phase, as funded by the previous cycle of the Metropolitan Park District (MPD). The current MPD cycle (2023-2029) provides funding for the construction of two new OLAs and the design of a third. As mandated by the MPD, one of these OLAs will be constructed in West Seattle and the other OLA can be constructed in any other neighborhood of the city. The third site (funded for design only) may also be constructed anywhere in the city, though construction funds will need to be secured first.*(Alt-text and an explanation of the map is listed at the bottom of this page.)

These sites included in the study were determined not to be suitable for a future OLA:

*Alt-text for map, and location text

A map of Seattle showing Existing, Planned and Potential Off-Leash Areas by using green, red and gray dots. Sites already in the planning phase are Georgetown, South Park Community Center and Smith Cove Park. Potential sites needing public input are as follows:

Discovery Park North Parking Lot; East Queen Anne Playground; View Ridge Playfield; Ravenna Park; Powell Barnett Park; West Seattle Stadium; Brighton Playfield; Othello Park; Lincoln Park.