Took my pup Jack to this park for the first time as we are new to Missouri. The park was a large area of trees, trails, and a small section of lake for dogs to swim. Jack is used to hiking back home in California so he loved the open space and trails within the forest. Jack also liked the small section of lake that the dogs can swim at, however the only downside is that there is no division for small and large dogs. I noticed the large dogs would gather around the smaller ones a lot causing some unwanted behavior and crowding. If the lake was sectioned into 2 areas it would be perfect. Overall a good experience and place to go in low traffic days if you have a small dog like me. read more

I don't have a furry baby because 2 weeks ago I had to put my 20 year old yorkie named Guy to sleep eternally. Am still grieving so I thought being in the presence of other dogs and watching how they're cared for by their parents would give me comfort and ease my pain. Even just to be approached and sniffed at would acknowledge that I have a spirit that our fur babies sense. This park is great. Back in VA where I live, we have plenty of state parks and doggie parks but not leash off doggie parks that span vast areas where dogs can run around and mingle and oh swim in the lake. There are benches along the pathway for you to sit and watch your dogs. The park has public restrooms right by the entrance/exit gates. The day that I walked the long paved pathway to get to the lake it started raining so I had to turn around and didn't get to see the lake. I will go back next time am in town. Thanks local guides for your reviews that helped me find your wonderful Shawnee dog park! read more

Wish I discovered this place earlier. Beautiful, huge dog park with lots of trails. About a mile roundtrip walk to the dog beach. The water was very shallow and gradual and there were tons of dogs swimming and some people. My dog loved it read more

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When my dog was a puppy, this was always a fun and frequent place for us to visit. It's seriously impressive because you have SO much land for your dogs to roam. The highlight for many is a big dog beach for them to swim in the lake, but as time has gone on, we prefer the tree filled nature trails that run on each side of this park. All in all, it's a wonderful place with a few hiccups. The beach is fun, and my dog enjoys frolicking around the water. The thing is, it's a bit like a class party in elementary school in that the energy of all the dogs gets a little unhinged in all the excitement. There are frequent unfriendly dog encounters here in my experience and it kinda puts a damper on things. There are so many places to dispose of your dog's poop, but you wouldn't really know it based on the fact that so many people don't pick up after their pets here. Even right by the trash cans we were dodging it. But for a nice little getaway for my seven year old dog, the nature trails are great because you can essentially get a hike in while letting them off leash. My dog loves exploring and also loves being near us, so it's a perfect match. The busiest times here are always in the spring during those first nice days, especially on the weekends. Lowkey, I think November is a great time for this as there are still several nice weather days and the bugs die off. I'd say this is definitely on the "must-visit in KC" list if you have a dog. read more

Easily one of my favorite dog parks in the greater Kansas City area: Shawnee Mission Dog Park! This dog park is free to enter, has a large lake for the animals to swim in, handicap accessible bathrooms for all genders, handicap accessible & paved paths, along with several trails throughout the fenced in park. There are even spots to give your animals water and pick up/throw away their waste. You can choose to keep your dog on the leash or let them off of the leash to explore the park! We enjoy walking along the edge of the fence and through the trails while we are at this dog park. I have never had any major troubles with other dogs at this park either. If you are looking for a free and fun spot for your pup to play in the greater Kansas City area, check out Shawnee Mission Dog Park! read more

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We are fortunate to have a lot of great dog parks in Johnson County, but this one is incomparable to the rest. It's huge, nice long trails, different paths where you can cut through the woods, and the dogs have a blast at the lake. I could see a downside if your dog doesn't tend to stay with you or doesn't have great recall. But if you can easily to keep track of your dog, this is the place to be. read more

We love our puppers & doggos, but they need room to be themselves, amirite? And be honest, not everyone has some AKC-trained pooch and thusly, leashes are the order of the day. But sometimes, ya gotta let dogs be dogs and let them get social & maybe messy. It's a proven fact that pets improve our moods, lives, and relationships, so find some open spaces and let them dogs out. Shawnee Mission Park's dog park is expansive, secure, and pretty dang fun. A double gate makes sure that the average dog won't escape, lest your pet have cunning and opposable digits. It's about a half-mile of open space, with a wide sidewalk, from the parking lot to the beach/lake area, so your pet can take a refreshing and likely messy plunge. Handy tip: the last 10-12 feet going into the lake have pavers laid down, so it gives the typical dog some footing before dipping a paw in the waves. Our Loki is a rescue tripod, who desperately wants to be like the others, and the lake evens the playing field for her. Well, sort of... But this is a secure environment with some open woods that are fenced. There are pet waste stations (be a responsible human!), water fountains, and even bathrooms/portapots for the owners. We are spoiled because it's a mile from our front door, but besides being the *best* green space in the KC Metro, SM Park offers the best area for our doggo to stretch her (3) legs, safely and with loads of fun. read more

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This dog park gets 5 stars for my dog and his needs, your dog might have different needs. I think this is my dog's favorite place in the world, he a Labrador retriever and loves swimming and playing fetch. The parking lot is spacious but I have seen it so busy it's full depending on when you go. For my dog it's a spring, summer, fall park. We don't go in the winter because he will want to swim and would freeze if we let him. It has a paved sidewalk all the way down to the rocky beach. There is one part by the water that is pretty steep, so I don't think I wouldn't say it's wheel chair accessible or stroller accessible, if you go all the way. There are a couple little dirt trails around for hiking. We've set up hammocks before. It's fenced in, but if you have a small dog that likes to escape, watch for holes. There is a spot for dogs to get a drink. You have to clean up after your dog, and there is only one poop-shoot to discard it. There are bathrooms now at the front entrance. TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS: If you bring a bag to the beach and set it down just know it might get peed on. I've seen this happen to many unsuspecting guests. The dogs are roaming free, so anything is fair game. Be ready to share toys with other dogs and play with other dogs. Dogs get separated from their owner easily because it's a big park. Prepare for a long walk down to the beach. Bring water for yourself. You don't want to be stuck carrying a huge bag, pack light. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - The Dog Park Beach at Sunset - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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Busy but for good reason! Nice path to walk and a little beach area at the bottom. Well maintained and very beautiful!

I'm always so impressed with this dog park. It is kept up with very well, and is always clean. The beach is the nicest place in the area to take dogs swimming, I also loved how big the paved paths are. It makes it very accessible, especially wheel chair accessible, etc. There are also dirt paths off the main paths that go into the wooded area. My dogs absolute love this park, and so do we! read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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Shawnee Mission dog park is a huge place to let your dog run..and swim! It has a great trail down to the water to give you and your pup plenty of excercise. My only complaint about this dog park is that it is so big, I alwas have a fear of losing my pet! read more

I've been to dog parks all over the country with my Labrador, and this is the best I've found. There are trails through the woods, acres of grass and a well maintained dog beach. The beach is not muddy, with small pebbles that lead into clear water. It's well worth the 30 minute drive we take a few times a month. Definitely recommend. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Dog beach at sunset. - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

I love this dog park! My dogs love this dog park. It is massive and is on the lake allowing dogs to swim. On top of that they finally added bathrooms at the entrance. We will be here every weekend this summer swimming. read more

Clean and lots of space for my dog to play. Nice walking path down to the water. A fun place to be! read more

I never thought the day Would come that I would feel the need to review a dog park but...this is the most amazing dog park I have ever seen. Most dog parks are glorified backyards and some are standard parks with no leash requirements. This dog park is truly something exceptional. It is a beautiful park in its own right and has trails, open plains, and even a lake! Our furry pals deserve to have somewhere special to frolic and make friends. This park is an excellent place for just that! It is huge and well organized for all your doggie needs. The "poop chutes" are a great addition and gave me quite a chuckle. The lake is beautiful and well maintained. Check it out at sunset sometime, you will not be disappointed! read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Beautiful sunset on the lake - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Been going here for 12 years. All I can say is the folks here are Dog People. Never had anyone complaint about my crazy dogs. They get hugs from everybody. No snooty folks. Come one come all. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - My pup meeting some nice Goldens. - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Puppies!! All the puppies (And their poop)! Only took us nearly 2 years to make the stop but we surely enjoyed a cool Jan workday afternoon without all the crowds and the mud. The off leash trails are the bestest Greatest thing about SMDP! We typically hit up Kill Creek (since it's closer) for some dirt hiking but I'm so happy Merlin the spoiled schnauzer can hike off leash at SMDP! Not that leash laws have ever stopped us before ... don't rat us out. Mystery dog poo shots were entertaining and the dogs (and their owners) seemed to be on their best behavior. I couldn't imagine a nice sunny summer day and all the madness ... but we loved our winter hike! read more

We love this park. My dogs run all over the woods and the lake is nice to stop off and get a drink for them. I wish it wasn't closed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until 9. read more

This is the BEST dog park I've found in the Kansas City Metro area! There's a bunch of land for the dogs to run around, a water fountain for the dogs to get fresh water, a couple areas to dispose of dog waste, trails through the woods, a wood-chip walkway (in case it's muddy), and best of all there's a lake for the dogs to swim in! This is THE BEST place to take your dog! read more

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We've been coming to Shawnee Mission Dog Park for years and it's always a great time! Our bigger dog does better at parks where you can "hike" versus the "fenced in yard" type. You can guarantee that she remembers exactly where the water is and loves to go for a dip. We also like to take our kayaks out on the lake to get to the dog park beach. There are side trails if you are feeling adventurous! read more

The BEST dog park! So lucky to have it. Only issue is that people swim here in the same spot that dogs poop. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Guinness at the dog park - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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This is the best dog park around and the best and largest in all the ones I have ever visited. It's huge. I forget how many acres, but the website tells you. It's a lot. My favorite feature is that they have left a lot of the dog park thickly forested. My dogs love running and hiking these winding trails through the Forrest while being off leash. The paths are not near busy roads and the park has a lot of tastefully (discreetly) done fencing at the perimeter to try to keep the dogs within the large park's safe boundaries. The park also has a central paved road for owners to walk on with their dog, enabling more opportunities for the dogs to socialize and chase one another on the adjacent grassy "pasture" areas while heading to the large lake. The water quality in the lake is excellent, except for the days immediately following a storm. While no visible differences in quality, I used to visit a website that monitors different water quality of lakes around KC, and the water quality was normally very high in this lake on regular days (consistently measured highest water quality amongst all the lakes and rivers on this website). This park is a little unusual in that dogs seem to hike alongside their owners rather than mingle in large groups like you see in most dog parks. It took my dog a while to get used to it when we occasionally visited this park when she was younger, and now that she's older, she prefers it. We live close by the park now (is partly the reason why we chose to live in the Shawnee area), and we visit it often in Fall, Winter and early Spring. If you live in KC and have a dog, you MUST experience it at least once, especially hiking the side trails inside the park with your off leash dog. read more

I've been bringing my aussies for two years now. We love it here this is our favorite dog park. Depending on the day we might take the concrete trail or the dirt trails. And we always play in the water!! Best dog park around!! read more

So. Much. Love. Our Kiya is a high energy pup and when she doesn't get her exercise, she gets antsy. More often than not, she chews stuff. I lost my beloved blue suede tennis shoes to her boredom and I have no one to blame but myself. Okay, I admit it - I blame Kiya, a little bit. We try to get to Shawnee Mission Dog Park about once a week or so. It's a bit of a trek but so worth the drive! We love the dog beach. Kiya hasn't really gotten the hang of swimming just yet but she loves to wade in and cool off after the hike to the lake. The dog parents here are courteous - the keep a close eye on their dogs and pick up after their business. I've gotten into some fun conversations here, and made some other pet parent friends. The trails are numerous, mostly shaded and interesting. If you want to do do hill work while on a hike or run, this park has you covered. On occasion, Bubbles Mobile Dog Wash makes an appearance and you can't beat it for convenience and a smell-pretty, clean dog. A water station is available at the entrance to the park but load up before you get too far in or bring your own if you need to rehydrate frequently. Disposal bags are also available, which is nice and there's a portapotty close to the lake. I haven't used it, so I can't speak to it's cleanliness, but it's reassuring to know it's there. The park is dusty and/or muddy and I haven't visited without having some random dog shake lake water off on me, so be prepared to get dirty. Small sacrifice, knowing how happy the dogs here seem to be! read more

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This place is huge!!! Last summer was our first time taking our dog to this park and he loves it because they have a dog beach. Unlike other dog parks that are just grass and fences this gives the dogs room to swim in water. A lot of people throw the dogs toys out in the water so they can swim out. There are a lot of different breeds so you must pay close attention to your dog if they are off leash. We choose to keep our on a harness with a 20' lead. (He's not a very good swimmer) but it gives them lots of outdoor room to interact. All dogs of all sizes come and have never had any problems with any dogs being aggressive. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - His sunglasses are a must at the beach. - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Great dog park! Clean, lots of trails! The beach is fun! Gets busy on the weekends so get there early.

My dogs and I LOVE this dog park. The trails are well maintained and the beach is a great place for those dogs that love to swim. There are plenty of dog waste stations and places to throw away your trash. read more

I love the Shawnee dog park!! My dog loves the water http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krzm86aOJ0M as seen in the video link above Turk loves to fetch from the water for hours, he isn't happy on the weekend unless he gets to go to the park and see his friends and get in the water. If you live in the JOCO area and have a dog...why aren't you going to this park? read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Turk enjoying the water. Shawnee dog park is great, many dogs out there, great pet owners, lots of happy doggies :) - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Great area for the dogs, if your dog likes to swim. Paths were muddy and Porta-Potty is disgusting. Would rather chance getting Poison Ivy and Go Girl Scout style in the woods, then use the Porta-Potty by the dog park area. read more

This is not only one of the best parks in general in JoCo but truly one of the best dog parks. It is extremely large with many trails as well to take your dog through. I honesty have no idea how large the off leash dog park actually is. When you first walk in, it's basically one very large walkway with the destination being the lake at the bottom of the hill where the dogs are jumping in the water or chasing each other on the beach. That's the only difference and kind of odd thing about this park. You almost feel as though there is a destination and you have to keep walking toward the water. Unless you're off on the trails, there aren't many who are just staying in one spot. You're either going to the lake or coming back from it. My dog isn't a big fan of the water except he loves to just stand in it to cool himself off or lay in it on a hot summer day. I love all of the trails they have within the dog park as well. My dog loves to explore and is great at following trails so it makes for a nice little hike. There's not near enough parking so on a nice day, don't be surprised to see cars lined up and down on the side of the street. There's plenty of dog waste stations with plastic bags plus they have what I like to call "poop chutes" for you to throw your dogs waste in. I have no idea wheee the big pipes go, but it's kinda cool. There are also lots of benches throughout, both down by the lake and along the large path. I love coming here to see all the variety of pooches. It's a great place to socialize your pet, get them some exercise, and tire them out! read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Gorgeous evening to bring Desmond - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

In a city as painfully underserved by dog parks, this one is far and away the best. Unfortunately for me, it's also just really far away. During the summer months I generally try and go here once or twice a week, though it does require about an hour of driving time each trip, so sometimes I skimp. But the experience for your dog at Shawnee Mission Off-Leash Dog Park just can't be replicated anywhere closer to the urban core. First of all, this place is HUGE. There are a good number of trails in a variety of settings: wooded, prairie....well, ok 2 settings. Tons of room to sniff and smell. My dog can sometimes get overwhelmed by cramped dog parks, and there is really no way that could EVER happen here. One thing to keep in mind, is that this place is so big you need to keep an eye on your dog because they can (and do) disappear on you and then you're left walking around yelling for your pooch. The main attraction is the dog beach, a sectioned off part of Shawnee Mission Lake. My dog is a total water dog, and I love seeing her freak out and bolt for the beach once the lake comes into her line of sight. We can waste an hour or so here and I'll have a very sleepy dog in my car on the ride back. The only real negative is the lack of human facilities. The water fountain and bathroom are right at the entrance, so if nature calls you either have a quarter-mile hike or you need to get comfortable going in nature (which must really be rough on the ladies). I'm fairly certain that's something you're not supposed to do in public parks, too. Additionally, the water fountains often don't have enough pressure to actually get water, and the toilet is a potra-potty. For as much use as this part of the park gets, I think they should spring for an actual brick-and-morter restroom. read more

This a pretty amazing dog park. Granted I haven't really been any other dog parks, and after bringing my pup a few times, I'm not sure I'd want to go anywhere else. It's a wonderful park to take young pups (and older dogs!) to burn of all the excess energy that puppies have. Given the size, it definitely takes about 30 minutes to get down to the lake side - depending how many pit stops you and your friends make. While many dogs are off leash you do also have a few (including mine!) that are kept on their leashes...at least until we reach the water. It's a great place to socialize your dog and also for them to burn off excess energy. I was initially nervous about letting my pup off his leash at the dog beach, but letting him off to run was wonderful. With all the dogs that are there playing he didn't run off and actually learned to swim! OMG! Definitely an awesome place to take you dog to play, swim, and make new friends! read more

Johnson County does a nice job with its parks and Shawnee Mission Park has set the standard for dogs parks in the KC area with it's size and well kept dog beach. While the beach is by far the most popular feature at the park, the trails through the woods on either side of the main path to the beach are the real highlight of the park. The trails are easily manageable for most humans and the dogs are free to explore the woods, creeks, and brush as they travel on their way down the trail to the beach. Unfortunately, it seems most visitors to the park skip the trails and head straight fir the beach. There are a few negative features at SM Park. First, probably due to its size, the park isn't really fenced off. Second, the parking lot always makes me nervous. People let their dogs off leash in the lot and in their excitement, the dogs don't always see cars moving about. It also isn't fenced well and dogs can just wander out. Finally, this park seems to bring out a lot of irresponsible dog owners who don't get their dog proper socialization or think it's OK for their dogs to be overly aggressive towards others, but don't appreciate other dogs letting theirs know the behavior isn't OK. Overall, this is a great place to bring your dog, just be aware of the lack of fencing and keep an eye out for your dog in the event others aren't supervising theirs. read more

Such a great place. Dogs certainly have the time of their lives and the pet owners are respectful, courteous and super fun. I'm not sure how I've lived in the area for 8 years and just now discovering this place. I can't keep secrets so I'm telling everyone o know how great it is. read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

Located just west of 435 and 87th Street. After you park, you and your dog(s) head to path which starts as a 15 yard wide path of mulch and bark with grass on either side. This wide open area will lead straight to the lake and dog beach about 3000 feet later. On either side of this wide path are smaller trails that meet up back the the end of the main path and lake. There are usually 1-2 dozen dogs running around, socializing, catching toys, or on a leash. At the beach, dogs run and jump into the lake chasing toys, or some just skirt the beach. The only knock I have is with my dog being chased and terrorized by other dogs on 2-3 occasions. The dog's owners didn't really do anything about it. I kind of get the feeling that it's a "big dog rules the park" kind of understanding with people. This is the first dog I've owned so maybe that's how dog life works, I don't know. Because of this, I'd be very, very hesitant to bring small kids there, though I see them all the time, without incident. It's a great park for dogs and owners alike, just watch your dog if it's timid. read more

This particular dog park is amazing for a few different reasons. One, it has tons of open space for the dogs to run around and really burn some energy. Two, there is lots of wooded space, perfect for an adventurous puppy like mine. And three, there is a beach just for dogs! When we first adopted Miss Vanilla Bean she loved the idea of water, running right to it and splashing around, but was pretty much the most ungraceful swimmer I had ever seen. She looked like a drowning caricature of herself. But what a great outlet for her to learn how to be a puppy paddling champion! When we go now she happily swims out further than most other pooches to retrieve her toys, although sometimes we have to recruit others to make up for her uncanny ability to get distracted by practically anything. It has been in my experience that 98 percent of the other dogs and dog owners are genuinely good characters. That makes going to this park even better. There are trails winding through the wooded areas and fields alike, which give the pups plenty of exploring time while you walk them. One bit of warning though, Miss Falcor usually leaves muddy (if there is mud anywhere she will find it!) and/or covered in burrs. To remedy this we simply bring along a blanket and just head to a dogie bathing center after. That may not be the case for all K-9 companions though as little miss Muppet Nose seems to be in the higher percentile of dogs who like to get as messy as possible. This is our favorite local dog park. Well done Parks and Rec peeps of JoCo, and thank you. We will be reinstating our puppy play dates here as soon as the weather is a bit more consistently warmer. I live in the Market area so a round trip is close to 45 minutes. The trip is well worth it though! My little furry friend loves her time here, as do her frolicking partners! read more

I personally would give Shawnee Mission Off-Leash Dog Park 5 stars, but this isn't really my review, it's Frodo's. Frodo isn't quite sure he loves it. The first time we went he was pretty excited to have all this unfettered freedom, and rushed around (within 12 feet of me) on the wide mowed walkway heading west from the parking area. It was very exciting at first to meet all the other dogs, but then it started to be a bit overwhelming and scary, they were all so big. But he trotted along okay, and had fun sniffing all the evidence and trying to pee on top of tufts of grass, apparently to seem taller, this is my theory anyway. He managed not to topple over, probably due to strength of will in this challenging and machismo-fraught environment, since he falls over regularly in our walks around the neighborhood when he tries to pee on very tall bush branches. So that was fun, but then we got to the beach. I had hoped that Frodo would see all the other dogs having fun at the lake and join in, but his hatred of water in general and lake water in particular prevented any such thing. He enjoyed the beach for about a minute, but then realized what it was, and another dog shook water on him. At that point he headed straight back to the car as fast as his little legs would go. I never did catch up to him, he was a toy dog on a mission. He was waiting for me by the driver's side when I came puffing up. We've been back several times, but Frodo won't go past the hill heading down to the beach without his leash, so we just walk down the mowed part and then head back to the car. It's still pretty nice. read more

People that take their dogs to this park are inconsiderate. I help my girlfriend with her dog there once and he was attacked. When we just went to the park a few weeks back there was a dog that was attacked and it screamed and howled like it was seriously injured. I got so mad that I was getting ready to go over to the park to find out WTF. But things quieted down and the Guy who had the attacking dog left I believe. This park needs supervision since people are not more responsible. read more

The BEST leash less dog park in the Kansas City Metro! Well, that isn't hard as it's only one of two that I know of and the downtown one is all DIRT! Anyhow, this park is pretty good size as they take a good chunk of Shawnee Mission Park and dedicate it to dogs. It's got a good size lake for your dog to go swimming in or chase balls, a "beach," trails on real grass, and trails through the woods. They have stations with "poop" bags and also water fountains for humans and dogs (a bowl that will fill up at ground level with water). We were there for over an hour and didn't see any aggressive dogs. Dogs of all shapes and sizes were there and were running around off leash, but staying within eyesight of their owners. Parking is a cinch and everything is free. This place is such a pleasure for the humans and the dogs :) I only wish that Kansas City, MO would set up something like this in the city itself. They have the park space and plenty of vacant lots or blighted buildings. However, you call the Parks department and they are fine with an all dirt, small, dog park near the Liberty War memorial :( read more

I've been traveling with dogs for 3 weeks! Traveling with dogs takes a lot of pre-planning- finding pet friendly hotels, the best parks in town that are pet friendly and restaurant patios that let me dine with our family members. I found this park on Yelp and it's the ultimate place to take your furry friend. Just a few hours here and your pup will be exhausted and worn out. The area is gated, has poo bags, and great trails to walk your dog. We came on a Saturday and it was hot in May in KC. Our two labs were so excited to see water and play with all the other dogs. It was fun for us to watch all the action and crazy dogs just loving life. Awesome place! read more

Shawnee Mission Dog Park - The dogs love swimming in the lake - Dog Parks Near Me - Shawnee, Kansas

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