Great location. Always clean and there's enough room for a score of woofies to run and play. There's also a small separate section for the smaller ones. read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

You can't bring balls into the park. No toys allowed. This isn't fun for dogs. Where else can they play off leash and play fetch? If other dogs can't handle it? They should leave. read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Signs that say toys and ball throwing are not allowed. - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Very disappointed in the section for small dogs. Small, no shade, no water, nothing for stimulation. The section for larger dogs is nice. Not huge, but has shade, water, a few agility things, and plenty of seating. read more

As the weather warms up again, I've been scouting out worthwhile trails to bike. The Thorndike field is right alongside the MinuteMan trail, a 10-mile, paved sprint that runs from Bedford to Alewife, which made it the perfect place to park. The lot is large with plenty of room for at least 20-30 cars. We've routed here a few Saturdays now and have never had an issue finding parking. It's safe, spacious and very well-trafficked. Because we don't have dogs, this park is mostly just a parking spot for us, but if we did it does seem like an excellent place to take your pup! read more

Highly recommend! It's a bit of a walk to take my doggo here but it's totally worth it. There is so much space for puppers to play here and there are a few agility things like staircases and tunnels as well! I like that this park is pebbles instead of dirt or grass. My lil girl loved playing here. Main drawback for me is that the water pumps never seem to be working! I would definitely recommend bringing extra water with you because when you fill up the bowls - all the pups will come over for some sips! All the people are also very friendly too. Very welcoming to a new dog mom! read more

Porter (my black lab) and I were spoiled with the very large fields and parks that were near Madison - moving here to Arlington will be an adjustment for pup. The park itself is well kept, people friendly, and there's enough room for pups to run. I will definitely miss having grassy parks, but for what it is - this park is great! Be sure to drive to Margaret, not Thorndike. Google maps was not the brightest. read more

My two-year-old, 16-pound Rat Terrier has a ton of energy and loves to play with other dogs of all sizes. She is also extremely prey-driven and I dare not let her off-leash for fear she will chase a squirrel into traffic. She is very quick and loves to run: her idea of great fun is to get a large dog to chase her around a yard. She seemed overwhelmed by the number of dogs at the Thorndike Dog park and didn't do much running, I think because of the gravel surface. The other dogs and people were very nice and it was sweet to see larger dogs try to engage her in play, but she spent a lot of jumping back into my lap with her tail between her legs and her ears pinned back. We were there for maybe 20-30 minutes and I thought she was adjusting to the situation but when I asked her if she wanted some water it was clear that what she really wanted to do was put her leash back on and leave. There is a separate, very small section for small dogs that no one was using and didn't have any shade. It would be better than nothing for an apartment-dwelling toy dog but I suspect that most small dogs won't like the gravel. read more

Leave it to Yelp to tell me about a dog park before the old lady does. Here's the M. Night Shamalama twist: the old lady told me through Yelp! Mind, blown. Thorndike is everything a dog park should be. Variable turfs for dainty of paws, sprawling shade for brutally sunny days, fenced-off areas for wee mutts and, of course, a Tree of Life. Yes, a Tree of Life. The McDonald's kiddie room take-away has found a new home in A-DOG's (Arlington Dog Owners Group) eighth of an acre, and it's proven to be the red carpet for newcomers and old dogs alike. Here's what goes down: some furry traipses through the double gated entry and guns it to the tree where the other dogs are chillin', sniffin', pantin'. It's also where the owners congregate, thanks to the halo of benching. New thang wants to run, so all dogs chase and as soon as new thang hits the thick layer of pebbles that constitutes 95% of the parks area, she heads back to the mulch surrounding the tree. The mulch becomes a 20 foot track that spits up dirt, slobber and more than a few laughs from the owners who refuse to move, lest the sun bake them golden-brown. And so goes the next 30 minutes. I love this park, with it's agility course, a maintenance shed full of supplies and running faucets for thirsty mutts. It's obvious A-DOG takes great pride in its upkeep. Two suggestions to make it perfect: - The gravel is a sanitary and effective as a dog park surface, but it's layered as thick and soft as beach sand. To many dogs, this feels unnatural, which may explain why they congregate around the tree. Maybe reduce the volume? - Related to the gravel height, the perimeter fence does not go all the way to the ground, and one pup actually weaseled its way out. There are many cheap fixes that will prevent smaller frame dogs from going Birdman to this Alcatraz, including two lengths of coated wire running along the base. Otherwise (and when compared to other local pooch playlands), it's a complete winner! read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Agility runs! - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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Open since May 2012, thanks to the strong support of the Arlington Dog Owner's Group, the town of Arlington now has their first fenced in dog park. And it is...amazing! Located right on the Minuteman Bikeway or accessible via Margaret Street, the park is located directly next to Magnolia and Thorndike fields. The park itself is laid out in a large triangular design (much bigger than any of the alternatives in the area). There's a large oak tree at the center surrounded by benches for owner mingling and providing pups with shade on a hot day. One end of the park has an agility area with tunnels, "dog walks" and obstacles for dodging. Another section of the park stretches out with an expanse of open space for running, fetch and tireless games of chase. Team hydrate: there are also 2 water bubblers providing fresh H2o for thirsty pups when/if they stop for a break. A separate area for small dogs and puppies is sectioned off to one side. Usually these areas are an afterthought but Thorndike's is actually a good size- meaning smaller breeds dont' get shortchanged. Having happily grown accustomed to the other dirt patch dog parks in the area, this spot comes across as the totally lux new kid on the block. A total pleasure for pups and owners alike... we'll most definitely be back! read more

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Coming back in winter and water is shut off, so bring your own. Mostly big dogs but there's a separate area for small dogs. Though that area is usually empty. read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Dogs in the park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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Time for another Daisy review. (Mom is busy, so I am using her computer. At least I am not online shopping at pet stores!) After a couple of months in my new home, my humans started to bring me here. At first, they kept me in the smaller fenced in area so that I could be in close proximity of dogs, but not close enough for the action. It was really scary back then! I then started going to the bigger fenced in area. It is awesome! There are a couple of concrete tunnels that I love to run through. There's a platform that I can jump on! There's also some weird balance thingy that my humans try to get me to walk on. Forget that! My humans like how there are benches to sit on, as well as poop bags. I really like how there is this tiny shed there because I can hide under it. NAH NAH NAH STUPID BIG DOGS. YOU CAN'T GET ME! It's a nice big place, and I love to run around. One time we crashed a corgi meet up here. There were probably at least 40 corgis. It was cool though because I am part corgi! My mom says that people need to watch their dogs here. Kind of like at a playground where you need to watch your kids. Sometimes there are dogs that play too rough, and their owners don't do anything about it. One time, this dog kept coming at me and growling even though I didn't like it. My mom pulled me away, but the dog just kept coming back at me. I don't know why! Not all dogs are meant to go to the dog park! Most of the time there are really great dogs who want to play and catch balls. I like that! In the colder months, the city shuts the water off. People bring jugs, so you might want to bring your own. I get thirsty from running around! If it is during soccer season, parking is a little tricky. You can just park on a side street nearby! I wish there was more grass here, but we are really lucky to have this in Arlington! read more

I live in Cambridge and this is by far the best dog park around! Definitely worth the drive even with others in closer proximity. The ground is gravel which is not as ideal as grass but given the difficulty in upkeep and the demand from dog owners in the area, grass just wouldn't be realistic. This is definitely the next best option--cleanup is very easy and noticeable. The layout of the park is perfect. The center of the big dog area (which is the main section; there is also a separate gated area for small dogs, though I rarely see sections like this here or otherwise in use) is giant, complete with a huge, beautiful tree in the center. A circular bench surrounds the tree which provides ideal seating options for visitors. In the summer the tree provides ample shade to keep the gravel from getting too hot and providing pups a place to lay down and rest comfortably. There's also a sizable course for dogs to practice tricks and agility, which is located off to the side within the larger enclosure. The difference in terrain seems to make the park a lot more interesting for the doggos, I've definitely noticed quite a few enjoying poking around the structures. Although it's turned off during the winter, there's a faucet to allow people to fill water bowls easily during the warmer months. And unlike other parks where once the water is turned off for the season there's never any other options, the community at this park is particularly great and people regularly leave containers of water while it's still above freezing. There's a very large rush before/after work hours--especially between 5pm-7pm. There are typically over 30 dogs in the park during that time, which is cool to see. They all run around chasing each other, very fun! I wouldn't recommend a more skittish dog coming between those times though, they would likely be stressed out. During the day it's pretty slow here so that's an ideal time for those pups; usually there's one or two there around midday. Could not recommend this park more highly! read more

What a sweet little place. A big huge fenced in yard. A giant tree for shaded areas, fun tunnels and bridges for the pups and plenty of seating for the parents. There are also bags provided if you forget or run out of your own so picking up after your pooch is easy!! Plus it's right near a cite field and park. I'll check it out this fall with the baby when we do a half walk for me and babe and half dog park for Apollo. Great spot! read more

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My dog and I went around noon for an hour and half. Lots of friendly dogs at the dog park. He played frisbee and with other dogs! He had a great time. It was clean and had several playground toys. Great place to play with your dog off-leash. read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

The surrounding area of the dog park is beautiful, it connects to the minuteman bike path and many recreational fields. It's a little oasis in the midst of such a busy city. There is in fact a large variety of dogs that spend their time here which is a treat for pets that don't acquaintance themselves with others a lot. However, I don't quite comprehend why dog parks now adays are rocky, fenced in areas in the middle of a field???? Dogs enjoy grass and forest like areas! Not hard concrete/peddle surfaces. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that dogs rely on their paws well being, and a surface like that that is named a "dog park" is quite the opposite! Treat your pets to a more natural park and they will definitely appreciate it. read more

The dog park was a great size. We loved that there was a large tree with benches surrounding it. It was a great way for the owners to escape the sun while the pups were running around playing. The only complaint was that our dog was able to squeeze under the fence in a couple spots. He only escaped once, so we were grateful the park is tucked away from any major roads. We probably won't visit the park again, for the fence issue. However, it's a great park for the bigger dogs. read more

Awesome dog park. Great space for dogs and owners. Something really special about our experience here was that all the dog OWNERS were really attentive to their animals and corrected behavior quickly. Clean space and separate area for small dogs. Not a whole lot of parking and really difficult to commute to from up north during rush hour. Avoid high traffic times. There are very few dog parks in the area and this is by far one of the best. Will revisit. read more

You don't get much better than this. It's the holy grail of dog parks. You've got your big, BIG dog area. The center has a tree surrounded by benches, there's tunnels to go through, steps to jump on, and plenty of space. The small dog area is equally as sizeable. 3 medium and 1 small dog, plus 5 children, 7 adults were able to run around with no issues at all. The dogs and children were running, not the adults. It's also surrounded by parking, fields, and a playground, so there's something for everyone. read more

This dog park is lovely, and definitely our new favorite in the area! I took our puppy who is still a little shy there. The dogs and owners were attentive making it a very non-intimidating visit. By the end, she was running around too! The tree, benches, fence are great. I do agree with others that the volume of gravel may be a bit high though. read more

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Me and my pup love this place. She loves it because she gets to run around and play with her friends, I love it because she comes home exhausted. This is a large dog park, located at the end of Margaret Street in Arlington. It is also walkable from the Minuteman Bike Path, as well as the Alewife T stop. The park is completely fenced in, and much like every other dog park, has double gated entry/exits to help prevent pups from getting out when someone is coming/going. The play area is split into two seconds, a large (gravel) area that surrounds a large tree with benches, small agility course for the pups, two water faucets (operational during non-winter months), and 2 poop-bag dispensers for those who may have forgotten theirs. There is also a smaller area for puppies/shy smaller dogs. The park is open from sunrise, to 9pm and is even illuminated during the months that have early sunset. The rules of the park are standard: clean up after your pup, no aggressive or sick dogs, keep an eye on your dog, etc... a full list can be found at the city's website. http://www.arlingtonma.gov/i-want-to-/dog-ownership-/olra The park is maintained by the Arlington Dog Owners Group, and the trash barrels outside are emptied regularly by the city. This is a great park, both me and my little lady are there regularly after work and on weekends... so say hello to us, she's the adorable beagle/basset that likes belly rubs. read more

So grateful that Yelp led us to this awesome dog park! We have taken our two pups to Thorndike Field twice now and they have come back ready for nap both times. I was pleasantly surprised to not only find that there are two gates, a separate small dog section (incase things get too rowdy), tunnels, benches, and even water bowls, but more importantly a group of very friendly and attentive dog owner "regulars" as well. Even in the cold, this place can turn into a real zoo, so I can only imagine what it will be like in the Spring. I am sure I will have to drag my dogs away but hey, a tried dog is a happy dog right? Four paws way up for Thorndike Field! read more

My dog and I really love coming to this dog park. Not only is it a huge area for the dogs to all run around and play, but there is plenty of seating for the owners too. Smooth rock gavel ground covering. There is also some agility equipment as well. There is a huge tree in the middle that provides some great shade in the summer, and around the base of the tree are a number of benches providing ample seating. All the other owners I have interacted with have been super nice. Everyone talks amongst each other, trades dog stories. The dog park even has a water faucet and bowls for the dogs to drink from after all that running! My one and only complaint about this place is that they turn the water off really early into the fall. I wish they would leave the water on a little longer. read more

Great place to take your puppy or dog. They have a large pen with some basic agility stuff and a smaller pen in the back for small dogs or unsociable dogs. My only complaint is that owners of some dogs can not control their animal. I have broken up one or two fights in the 10 times i was there. (Neither of these incidents included my dog). Also it is a sand dog park which is nice for no mud but can get very dusty during hot days. Sandals not recommended. read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Norichan and Nacho! - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Drove all the way to this dog park with my pups and my best friends dog. After two minutes of being there a grumpy old man comes and says our dogs can't play with toys or bark. I was quite confused because that's what dogs do and the signs said those things were allowed. Little did I know the "NO" was painted over; understandably so. It's literally in the middle of a trail and park(other than this mans living quarters) so it shouldn't matter in my opinion. He said some dogs don't know which toy is theirs to play with(duh) so a fight could happen. I was extremely understanding and asked if I could put it away if another dog were to come in the park, like I always do anyways. Apparently that was not good enough so he continued talking from 40 yards away then left after I said "ok bye" 5 million times because I GET IT! I finally caught my friends golden that was playing chase with ball in mouth and threw it towards the exit gate; I was obviously out of there once he said ridiculous things. He then waddles back from his house saying he was calling the cops on us, that we have been seen on camera and the cops have my license plate. He watched me pack up and walk all three dogs to my car, which I found so strange and threatening!! I get you have rules, but when you're a dog park on a nice trail, what is the point if you can't even be a dog? After we left a few dog parents walked by and said they never bother going in there either. I'm a dog walker/sitter and I have never seen such asinine rules posted. Will never ever ever ever return. Not sure how this place has such high reviews. Also, no running water still, no poop bags in case someone is out or doesn't have any. Probably aren't allowed to potty in there either. HA! read more

I'm in Medford, and looking on yelp this was one of the closer fenced in dog parks, so yesterday we took a drive over to check it out. It was easy to get to and had plenty of parking. Most importantly, Chance (my Puppy Boxer) had so much fun. There was enough space for him to run around like crazy. Every dog and dog owner we encountered was friendly. I felt secure with the fenced in area, and there was water to keep him hydrated. Overall we had a great time. We will definitely be coming back here :) read more

I went to this park for the first time today with a few friends and our dogs. Overall the park is very nice and most of the owners and dogs were well behaved and pleasant to be around. I just want to warn other people who go that there is a gentlemen with a brindle Boxer you should be extremely wary of. I've heard that he is a regular there. This dog has resource guarding issues. I witnessed him go after other dogs that come near his ball. The owner could not grab the dog to put the leash on and leave with out the dog REALLY going after any dog near at the time. He made 3-4 attempts to grab his dog, each time it went after nearby dogs. Not only does this dog not belong in the park but the owner stands off to the side and reads the whole entire time. When he leashed the dog and left I simply said to him "your dog does not belong here". His response was "you are extremely rude and inconsiderate". Now maybe since he is a regular and it was my first time he was put off by someone new saying that. And of course he has no way of knowing that I work with dogs professionally, I spent years responsible for evaluation daycare dogs temperaments and watching off leash packs of daycare dogs. This dog has enough issues that he does not belong in a dog park. So just be aware and if anyone can reason with this man the absence of his dog would make the park a lot safer to go to. Also, because there was a soccer game next door there were little kids coming into the park. The parents were not there to supervise them. Again, this is extremely dangerous (for the child). There should be a way to enforce children not being present, especially without an adult. read more

This is a great park! My dog loves it!!! It is pretty well maintained. The gravel isn't the best for her paws, but it sure beats having mud everywhere! read more

This dog park is pretty big, lots of space for the dogs to really get their run on. I'm sure there's a good reason for the gravel/dirt stuff they have there, but I am not a fan because the fine grit gets into my puppy's hair and is miserable to try to get it out (especially if she first wets her face and paws in the water fountain, which she does every time). They do provide poop bags and trash cans, and I've used them several times to clean up a few stray poops before I stepped in them. There are lots of benches to sit on, but don't get too comfy, the dogs really see them as part of the play area, along with the tree etc. so you may get bounced upon at any moment. read more

I found this park online and am so happy to have brought my furry friend today. It's spacious, clean, and easy parking. I loved that they had water bowls available (I wasn't sure so I brought my own). Right now, the water is shut off (due to winter season). I would recommend bringing a water bottle for your dog - the dogs were thirsty! The owners are very attentive, and it was nice to chat amongst ourselves about our dogs. I did give my dog a bath after because with the ground material, they will be dusty/covered in dirt when you leave (something to consider). Overall, highly recommend! read more

Thorndike Field Dog Park - Great space! - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

This is an excellent dog park! We live in near the Cambridge/Allston border and don't have many options near us. This was a short drive from our place and there were tons of great dogs and kind owners there. The fencing is really well done and there is a separate area for smaller dogs, agility equipment and fresh water bowls. We had a great day there today and will definitely be back! read more

Reggie loves coming here and saying hello to all the other dogs! Although there is a separate small dog area, all the dogs usually mingle together. There's a cool agility course there to climb up and down, and my little dog always seems so proud after doing so. Lovely surroundings with a park, bike path, and board walk through the marsh. So lucky to have this in the neighborhood! read more

My son likes us to walk here so he can see the dogs. We stay outside the gate and watch the dogs play. People are careful cleaning up and use the trash cans. No matter how we get here it's a beautiful trip. Such a nice park - even of you don't have a dog. read more

I love that they have dog poop bags! Also they have little things the dogs can run on and through, which they seem to really enjoy. When I went there were a lot of dogs, so I'd say it should be a little bigger. Otherwise I really liked it! read more

Great local park, with fun agility bridge! Gravel is a necessary evil.

Exceeds my expectations for a dog park! Awesome location and great amenities for the dogs!

The park overall is beautiful, however, the dog park is just a fenced in gravel area for the dogs to run around in. I wish that there was some grass or maybe some trees so that they could explore a bit more. My dog has little paws with lots of hair and the gravel gets stuck in his paws. He's also not the most social dog and would much rather lay on the grass watching the other dogs and sniffing around. If you have a big dog that likes to run and rough house with other dogs then this is a great place to let loose. read more

Thank you to the town of Arlington from Teddy the Wonder Dog! My 40 pound pup loves that he can run with the older dogs, off-leash, in a safe, enclosed area. Great way to socialize your dog and have them their exercise without traveling outside of the city. It can be a little overwhelming when it gets busy but it is easy to take your pup for a quick walk and then come back to the park. read more

You can tell the moment you see it that so much love and care went into this dog park. It isn't the biggest I've been to but i've never felt overcrowded there. it has agility obstacles so you can even do some training with these as well. I've never had any issues with aggression or owners not keeping their dog in check if there is unwanted behavior. It is open all year round but remember to bring water in the colder months because the water is turned off so the pipes don't freeze. The ground is all gravel so I've never seen any issues with it getting muddy but I think it discourages the dogs from getting too wound up which isn't a bad thing. I've seen kids there and as long as parent's stay with them and supervise them closely they have fun too. Just beware some kids can get knocked over or frightened if they are too young. Overall, if you live near it, use it! Every town should have one like this. It will give your dog exercise and improve your dog's social skills. read more

One of the best enclosed dog parks I have found - and i looked all over. I travel 40 minutes just to bring my dog here. There is one very big enclosure and then a smaller one, but everyone brings there dogs into the big enclosure, even the little 2 lb. dogs. It consists of all gravel, which is very ideal - no mud ! - and picking up after your dog is clean and easy. Most owners handle their dogs very well, I have no complaints yet. read more

My favorite dog park! Worth the drive past Danehy to cross into Arlington. My doggy starts to cry and shake when we turn onto Margaret St. Not just your average rectangle. There is a tree in the middle for shade (and sometimes squirrel entertainment!) with benches all around for the 2 legged breed.. Agility activities await and there are plenty of dog friends coming and going. Bring your dog and let them play (except if you're the two woman that I have spatted with when their dogs crossed to the bullying side.) read more