This is one of the best dog parks my dog, Franklin, and I have ever visited. First, it's enormous. Second, there's a comfortable deck area for owners to gather while our dogs are playing. Third, it's a beautifully maintained suburban space where dogs and their owners can linger for literally hours if we choose. Once I found this dog park, I almost never went to any others. The only downside is that there's no separate enclosed space for small dogs, if that's important to you. The park is lovingly overseen by fellow dog neighbors, who clearly bring their love of all things dog-related. If my dog only stopped eating tennis balls, we'd visit more regularly! read more

Very much agree with other reviewers - this dog park is full of AWFUL dog owners and people who very much have a "only people who live nearby belong here" attitude. I had a horrible experience here and will never go back. It felt really unsafe for both animals and people because the neighborhood people did not have control over aggressive dogs, and actively did NOT care about it. I even got yelled at for asking for someone to control her dog because "WE here at this dog park understand that this happens here." Until the neighborhood people become better humans (unlikely), I suggest you avoid this place. read more

I'm a tiny bit into genealogy and discovered that my Great-great-great grandfather was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen during the Civil War. He was injured early on and spent time in a local hospital before being discharged back home to western Pennsylvania (Hilliards, Pennsylvania, to be quite specific -- an eponymous town named after his ancestors) I also wanted to visit because it was a park that I used to take my own kids to play in back in the early 80's before I knew the ghost of my ancestor might be walking there. I took my granddaughter and her cousins to play. Equipment was well-maintained and with enough variety to keep them interested. read more

Fort Ethan Allen Park - My Great-great-great grandfather Abraham Hilliard Jr was stationed here during the Civil War. My great-great grandmother was Tirza Hilliard - Playgrounds Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great park for kids! Kind of hard to find. Go past the "ft ethan allan park" sign to the community center, the park is behind the center. Completely fenced in both toddler & preschool equipment. Very age appropriate equipment. Tot lot is in a large sandbox. Many push cars on black top area, bring chalk!! Regulation size basketball court-2 hoops. Dog park to the side of kids park. Lots of benches, bathroom inside the community center! Drinking Water fountains in park. 2 large playing fields read more

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Nice dog park, decent-sized and fenced in case you are worried about your dog. Park in the City's lot at the beginning of the street (at the corner of N. Old Glebe) where there is a lot of parking, and you only have to walk down two buildings to get to the park anyhow. I saw a lot of dog bowls left out, but I brought my dog's own water, so they may have a water fountain there too? read more

I go to this dog park almost everyday! Today was the worst experience ever! I literally wanted to leave right after this horrible situation. The women literally left because, she felt awkward I walk in with this wonderful women who had her sweet dog, not even two second this old women starts yelling that her dog pooped and she said" ma'am, you with the dark shirt, oh there three of you, the one on the phone! Your dog pooped in front of you, instead of saying it nicely she said it rude! Her dogs are barking non-stop and not caring at all, she is yelling and talking very loudly and not, going by the rules. I am deeply upset by this. If only she said it nicely it would of been okay but, the way I just witness it, it made me feel sick! read more

Nice park but I agree with another reviewer on unfriendly dog owners! Wow- I have never felt the need to leave a dog park so soon- my dog is super friendly and wants to greet everyone - as she's a golden ... I said hello to servals owners who looked at me, ignored me and ignored my golden wagging her tail feet away sitting just waiting to be acknowledged...their dogs clearly wanting to come say hello too... but nope- no interaction... thought dog parks were so dogs could socialize and play... guess this one is not one of those parks unfortunately... read more

We brought our dog here often a few years ago as a puppy, before we changed over to Clarendon dog park, and returned here with her this week with nostalgic memories... only to find it inhospitable. It was a beautiful day, but we only stayed 20 minutes, because 1) all the mulch has been turned into gravel. Literally the entire dog park is just gravel. No mulch, no grass whatsoever. 2) One dog at either end of the (small) dog park would not stop barking at all. Continuous barking. The owners made no real effort to stop it, despite large posted signs saying that continuous barking is not permitted. 3) BEES. Huge numbers of bees, from the very small to the very, very large, clustered around different parts of the dog park, particularly any areas that had water for the dogs. At least 100 bees in the dog park. Go to Clarendon or Shirlington. read more

Great park but not so friendly dog owners. I decided to take my dog on 11/29 to let her get some energy out. Myself and my dog have never been to this dog park before so I let her stay on leash to get acclimated to her surroundings. We open the gate and 5 dogs ran up to her which was expected and she seemed to love it but was still nervous cause she didn't know where she was. Well apparently that was a problem. An older man told me that my dog wasn't allowed on a leash because it was an off leash park which I understand. I wanted to make sure my dog was comfortable and i was definitely not letting my dog off leash right off the bat where she's not familiar. So we decided to leave, and while walking away a dog decided to nip at my dog and if it wasn't for her being on a leash it could've easily turned into something worse. They barked and growled and the dog would not leave my dog alone. I left and won't be returning. The park itself is really nice and spacious but because I wanted to make sure my dog was comfortable was an issue. I don't think it would've been a problem if i had a 10 pound dog, but since she is a Pitbull i'm certain that's why he said something to me. I didn't want to risk my dogs life or another dog. read more

We bring our dogs here often. They have gone through a series of rebuilds in the last couple of years and seem to have settled on a new surface as well as fixed the plumbing and drainage problems. The people who go to the park are "regulars". We've definitely seen the same faces over the years. The park is a nice size, has high enough fences that our dogs (who can be kangaroo like at times) can't hop over. They have a working water fountain (three different levels, one at dog height) that is turned off in winter. There is a nice deck, benches and many tress so that you can always find a nice spot of shade. One word of warning, and my reason that this star count isn't higher, the surface that they use, while very friendly to the pooches paws, is like sandpaper on hardwood floors - you really do have to rinse the dogs paws off before bringing him in if you have wood floors or risk major damage. read more

I have brought my dog here several times because it is on the way to/from work. The park itself is a nice size, pretty well maintained, has water and places to sit. The park if I were just ranking the actual park would be a 3 or 4. The thing with this park that you should know is that it is all "regulars" who treat the park like it is their personal back yard. I have been here several times where an aggressive "regular" dog isn't removed because the owner operates like it is their own personal park. Overall the park is a nicely laid out but if you aren't a "regular" expect for the normal rules of dog parks (e.g., removing aggressive dogs) to not be followed. You'll be a guest in someone else's dog park. read more

Nice park next to the Madison Community Center in North Arlington. Good playgrounds for the kids and a basketball court. It also has a separate, fenced-in dog park for those with dogs. The two fields are surrounded by the earthwork berms of the Civil War-era fort. I understand Arlington County is going to put up some displays to explain the significance of the site, which once protected the approach to Washington from the north along the Potomac from those pesky Confederates. Nice park with a interesting dose of history. read more

I have visited Fort Ethan Allen dog park a couple times now and I have liked it. It is off the beaten path a little, but definitely worth it in the warmer season as there is a lot of shade for both the dogs and the owners. The park is nicely fenced in and has water pumps and bowls. However, if you are looking for a mulched or grassed dog park...this one isn't for you. The park is filled with the small gravel type of material. read more