Its meh! We are visiting from out of town and our dog has only been able to walk on leash. So we…read morethought we would find a local dog park. This one have lots of benches and picnic tables for owners to sit and rest. There are a few trees and it's flat and open. Fully fenced and secured. They have doggy bags for picking up doggy Doodoo. Came early in the morning and they were actually more people than I expected. Nothing fancy, but if you need a place for your dog to just run free and off leash, it does the trick.

Nice hidden gem. My dog is now with me in an apartment. We had a house in Fl with a big back yard…read more So it was great to see him off a leash and running around.

It's a shame this park is no longer well kept. Sure, there's no trash on the ground but the water…read moreis so polluted, I half-expect a mutated loch monster to emerge from the murky, sewage-green depths. I passed two dead catfish, belly-up near the shore in two different places as I walked the length of the lake. Water pipes and covers are broken throughout the park, art pieces are corroding, and just about every surface of this park is covered in graffiti. A shame, because this park was once very nice. I do enjoy coming here during the spring and fall months because it's a solid distance to walk, the sidewalks are wide, and there are a lot of community picnic areas. This park is so big, it stretches across both sides of Mill Avenue off Baseline Road. There's a place to rent paddle boats and bikes, and there are fishing areas spaced strategically around the lake. Something I also like is how easy it is to find shaded areas. This is a very family friendly park with space for children to play. It's also a great place to bring your dog and have your daily walk. There is a recreation center on the SE side of Mill Avenue that houses tennis courts (and I believe there's a pool). Also within this area is a large playground. I also love the ducks, and I'm sad they're swimming in polluted water. City of Tempe: be better. Take care of your parks, especially since tax dollars go toward the upkeep.

Grew up doing activities here. Cross country meets. Sailing lessons. Fishing. Good times.read more

This was closed due to re-turfing. However, I will continue based on observations…read more Upon arriving you will find yourself in a historic, well maintained neighborhood. Thus, providing beautiful architecture for your eyes to gaze upon. Parking is a non-issue here, as there is plenty. Turf! Once this park reopens it will be a treat for both you and your dog, as he won't be bringing a ton of dust back into the vehicle.

The dog park is closed for renovations until August. Don't waste your time and gas driving hereread more

Recently attended a softball tournament here. The fields looked pretty nice, but a lot of the girls…read moreslipped when they ran. It was a sunny day, so I'm not sure what was wrong with the field. They have plenty of benches at each field, but they're uncovered so watch out for flying softballs! We almost got hit by one from the field behind us. Definitely bringing umbrellas for protection next time. We were there for a few hours, so I had to use the bathroom a couple of times. The first time, the stall I went into ran out of toilet paper, but someone had left a bunch in there from another stall. There was only one sink, and the faucet is the kind that you press then let go and it should run for a short time. But this faucet stopped as soon as you let go. Fortunately I always carry hand sanitizer with me. Later I had to use the restroom again, and only the same stall was available. This time there was zero toilet paper. The bathroom was not like in the worst condition ever, but they should at least make sure the bathroom is stocked with toilet paper, especially when they know a tournament or other sports event is scheduled that day.

Nice complex with a skate park, multiple fields and tennis courts. Many sports games are hosted…read morehere. I was here for a lacrosse game, the grounds are well maintained and the bathrooms were decently maintained.

The dog park is a little bit of a walk but past the playground area, not large but enough for 7…read moredogs comfortably in my opinion. Contains water fountain for pups and doggy bags. I don't love the location mainly because the dog park is backed up to houses and not all the houses have brick fences or covered fences which means those dogs bark until you leave.

This park was just ok. It had water, bags and just enough space for most dogs to spread their legs…read more I much prefer other dog parks compared to this one. We ended up finishing our time exploring the rest of the park which was cool for adults and kids to enjoy. Will not be returning for the dog park.

This was an option for parking during the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival. It's about a ten minute or…read moreso walk from the parking lot, through the grassy area, passing the river, under the bridge, and finally through to the gate of Tempe Town Lake. During this eventful weekend, arriving early around 6am is ideal for grabbing the coveted spots under the trees. By 8am, the lot is likely full since the first heats have started. Street parking is also more than likely out of the question by then. During some downtime, I got the chance to explore the park and noticed lots of birds on the trees yapping away. Cranes over near the pond picking at morsels as far as I can tell. Canadian geese marching by and chilling near the gazebo. Medium sized fishes, possibly tilapia, congregating upstream in the river. Dog owners hanging and chatting while their pets pat each other down. Joggers passing by being careful not to step on the occasional brownie. Simply put, this is the abundance of the local park experience.

I am an out-of-town visitor and overall, the park is fair. There are actually two fenced areas…read more Both have plenty of seating and there are some trees, looks like the park departments lay hay or something similar down to help absorb smells and probably keep the dust from lifting. They also provide doggy Doodoo pick up bags. And water fountains for the dogs which have plumbed water so you can get fresh water for your pet. What's kind of discouraging is that people bring their dogs and leave the crap literally laying on the ground. I figure people who arrive when there's no one around just don't care. But it's frustrating. It's a dog park. We all share. We should all take care. Papago Park is actually very pretty and it's close to the trail so if you wanna go for a walk on the trails with your dog, it's in very close proximity. If you're here with your family, there's lots of areas to play for the kids as well. And this area of Tempe is very nice. So it's my second time coming and I'll probably come again since I'm here for two weeks. The people I encountered were very friendly and also very willing to do slow intros for our shy dog. So we didn't have any issues at all with aggressive dogs or pet owners who just seemed nonchalant about a small dog mix in with bigger dogs. So I could definitely appreciate that. Just warning to people who bring their dogs: pick up after your pet. No one else wants to pick up your dogs poop!!

Beautiful park, expansive and huge. Grassy areas galore and so many beautiful trees. Trees were…read moreactually red and golden showing the fall colors. Walked a couple dogs I was house sitting all around for 90 minutes. Framed by beautiful houses, this park had other dog walkers, people eating lunch and some reading books on the benches. There were swings and really interesting jungle gym type structures for kids and a community pool. It has a swirled sidewalk running thru it as well. On a beautiful 75 degree Phoenix December day, this park added beauty and serenity to our week! Hope you get to visit!

Definitely missing the sunny Phoenix weather being that I'm back in NYC. I came to this park during…read moremy visit here over the recent Christmas and New Year holiday to work out and bring my niece and nephew to play. The park has the basic obstacle course for kids, equipped with slides, swings ( only toddler swings), monkey bars, and a see-saw. Too bad the swings were only for toddlers;my niece and nephew are beyond that age lol. The palm trees were awesome just because they're palm trees. But given that it's Phoenix, most of the grass was brown. I happened to find an area that was shaded and had lush green grass. Overall the park was clean, free of debris, and the lawn is well kept. It's also walking distance from my family's home. While it doesn't measure up to Prospect Park or even Central Park, it gets the job done.

We took the whole extended family up through South Mountain Park, and it turned into one of those…read moredays that sticks with you a little longer than expected. We drove up to Dobbins Lookout, and that's where it really hits. Phoenix spreads out in every direction, a grid of life pressed up against open desert, with mountains rising in the distance like they've been quietly watching the whole thing unfold. It's not subtle. It's big, raw, and a little humbling. What makes this place stand out is how much it offers without trying to package itself too neatly. You can hike, bike, ride horseback, or just stay in the car and take the scenic drive. It works for everyone. We had a mix of people, some ready to tackle trails, others perfectly happy just soaking in the views, and nobody felt out of place. The trail system is extensive. You've got everything from easy, walkable paths to longer, more demanding routes like the National Trail, which stretches over 15 miles and cuts through a huge portion of the park. It's the kind of place where you can come back multiple times and still find something new. We did some light hiking, nothing too aggressive, but even then you feel the terrain. It's not forgiving, and that's part of the appeal. The desert has a way of reminding you to pay attention. Loose rock, uneven footing, the occasional reminder that you're sharing the trail with horses. It keeps you honest. Timing matters out here. Go early. Not just to beat the heat, which you absolutely should, but because the light in the morning does something different. It softens the landscape, pulls out color and texture that gets washed out later in the day. By midday, the sun is in full control and it's a different experience entirely. A few practical notes. Bring more water than you think you need. Then add a little more. Wear actual boots, not something you don't mind slipping around in. And keep an eye on the trail, especially on the multi-use sections. You'll know why pretty quickly. What I appreciated most is how accessible it is. You're minutes from the city, and suddenly you're in this wide, open space that feels removed from everything. No overdevelopment, no forced attractions. Just desert, sky, and distance. It's not polished, and it's not trying to be. That's exactly why it works. Five stars without hesitation.

One of the awesome things about Phoenix is accessibility to nature. Case in point: South Mountain…read morePark. One of the most prominent hiking areas town. I most recently stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for a hike. A couple of highlights to share. If you stop by their Visitor's Center, they have a mini museum where you can learn about the park e.g. the animals and plants that inhabit it; the fact that it's indigenous land, and the history of the park. The VC is air conditioned and they also have bathrooms and various pamphlets/brochures you can take with you. From there, perhaps the most famous hike is Holbert Trail. An hour and a half or so on this moderate trail (if you choose this fork in the road) will take you to Dobbins Lookout. The work you put in will take you to one of the most popular nature stops in town offering stunning scenic views of the city. After hanging out around Dobbins for a bit, an hour or so will take you back to your starting point. Making it a three hour hike or so. Beyond Holbert Trail and Dobbins Lookout, you have other cool things to check out at this Park. And all of it is for free. With easy parking. Enjoy!