Magnolia Manor Off Leash Park

I take my 21-​pound dog up to the Magnolia Manor dog park about once a week. I find the best day to go is Sunday.
Overall I like the park because it’s small and, for the most part, dogs are well behaved and the owners are nice. It’s pretty clean and there is water readily available for the puppies to drink. I will say I would like more grass and shade.
That said, there are two dogs who attacked my puppy. We don’t go if they are in the park. And there is a strange woman who lives in the neighboring apartments who shouts at the dog park with a bullhorn.
Again, I find Sunday late afternoon to be the best time to go.

If you’re a rebel like I am and break the soooo important, all holy regulation of keeping dogs leashed at Discovery Park, your punishment will be here at Magnolia Manor. (Puppy golden retrievers can lick you to death, I totally understand).
Two trees provide the small gravel pit refuge from the hot sun. The cement walkway (also unfit for dogs in the summer) held 3 chairs for owners. perhaps for the 3 owners that actually frequently the place or stay long enough.
I was there for 10 mins and watched dogs snap at each other and owners barely move. No thanks.

Love this dog park. Although it’s not crazy exciting for the dogs like some of the ones in woodland areas, it’s so busy all the time that the dogs are too busy having fun with each other to care about the surrounding environment. It’s super busy meaning the dogs are always playing together, and that also means that there is a good community of people to chat along with.

This dog park is lacking but it gets the job done.
Pros:
Good size park
Always a good mix of dog sizes
Friendly people
If there’s no dogs there, just wait ten minutes and more people always show up.
No mud.
CONS:
Every time I’ve come, there’s some fight breaking out (at every dog park, right?) but given this park’s size the fight will somehow involve your dog and change the mood of everyone there.
This park is quickly gaining a reputation for owners who don’t discipline or control their ill-​behaved dogs. Friendly but clueless owners.
Too much large gravel hurts little dogs’ feet.

I used to take my corgi here, but not anymore. This is a great park, don’t get me wrong, BUT IT IS SITUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD. What does that mean? Some of the residents aren’t too crazy about the fact that a new dog park opened up here… they’ve complained to the city about the noise and the smell, etc. which means if you plan to take your dog here, make sure he or she isn’t the barky type, otherwise you’re better off going to one of the other parks. My corgi is totally silent, submissive boy except when he’s at the dog park — then he morphs into a little herding maniac and tries to herd all the other dogs present… he barks NONSTOP. The last time we were here, a skinny woman in her 40’s came out of one of the apartments across from the park and yelled at all of us… and threatened to call the police for the barking. IT’S A DOG PARK, LADY. I’m SORRY YOU CAN’T HANDLE BARKING, but there is only so much a person can do to limit demand barking! What was a fun, hilarious romp by six dogs turned into four people getting upset, leashing their dogs and leaving, myself included.
We haven’t been back. and it’s no one’s fault. It’s just better for everyone involved that barky dogs don’t come here.

I was very excited to hear a dog park was being installed at one of my local parks, however I was extremely disappointed when the grass and gardens were ripped out in lieu of pea gravel and bark. I have a small boston terrier who cannot walk or run easily in gravel and she has cut up her paws several times trying to keep up with the big dogs. The gravel and bark also mean that I have to give my dog a bath every time we come home from the park because she’ll be caked in dirt from running around.
In addition to the environment we have had issues with more elderly residents in the area bringing their elderly, unfriendly dogs and expecting them to miraculously get along with everyone else. One might think these folks would take their (clearly) unfriendly dogs to the «small dog area» and gate them off from the others… instead I refuse to bring my dog here because I’ve had to rescue my small dog from unfriendly dogs trying to snap at her.
Do yourself a favor, and if you are able to take your dog to one of the bigger dog parks (like Marymoor or Sand Point) or over to Discovery Park you’ll be a lot more happy with the terrain. If you have a small dog, I would not recommend this park as it is close quarters with often unfriendly dogs.
I just want to add that not all the dogs are unfriendly, we’ve met some nice, playful ones too, but it only takes one unfriendly dog though to ruin the experience.

Came here to walk my neighbor’s pup. Good views. Friendly dog buddies. Nice place, adequate parking. I only wish it was a little larger.

So I was having a really great time here. There were a lot of small-​medium sized dogs which was great since mine are in that same range, the owners seemed very nice and responsible, and the park was very clean! It’s not too big, but there is plenty of room to run!
Then, 2 big dogs got in a fight. It happens. But the way that the owners dealt with it was really inappropriate. They were yelling profanities at each other and screaming that the other do was a terrible dog and ruining their dog’s experience at the dog park. It was awkward. Since this was my first and only time here, I don’t know if this is common but I assume it isn’t. Was quite a bummer though!

I have a Frenchie, so the size of this park is absolutely perfect (though I can see how those with bigger, more high-​energy dogs would find it a little small). Still, always nice to have more off-​leash areas and this one is one of the prettiest in the city! It’s also very well-​maintained, with fresh mulch in part of the park and pea gravel in the rest. This results in a much cleaner park and much cleaner pooch (no mud on rainy days/​dust on dry days)! I definitely appreciated the views on a sunny day; parking is free and plentiful as well.

A lot of regulars and mostly considerate dog owners. Obvious high traffic time on weekends and late afternoon/​early evening. There has been a poop pick up problem in recent weeks. People! Remember to pick up after your dog. Don’t be gross.

One of the great things about Seattle is how many neighborhoods have their own off-​leash area. I suppose this will eventually degenerate into an all-​neighborhood squabble for who has the best pet-​friendly parks; Wallingford installs hamster wheels, U-​District creates ferret off-​leash areas, etc.
But meanwhile, enjoy the early innocence of a neighborhood friendly park. The area has two entrances with a main area of gravel and wood chips as well as a smaller section for shy dogs. It’s kept pretty clean and trash cans can be found at each entrance. While the area is a little small, your pooch will enjoy his/​her/​its’ time here.

Open as of November 2012 this new COLA off leash dog park is a winner! I’ve only been there a few times so far, and I’m already a fan.
Dog owners are engaged and actually watching their dogs closely, with good voice control of their pooches. Since seating is limited to one bench you’re not going to run into the latte-​smart phone immersed crowd here.
The terrain is a mix of pea gravel and mulch, and so far everyone’s doing a great job cleaning up. There are 2 double gated entrances and a wide array of friends to romp with. If you head there during the cold months keep in mind it’s a lot windier up in Magnolia.