Pooch Park

This is a nice little park conveniently located at the border of Skokie and Evanston. It’s much smaller than the big dog parks in Lake County but bigger than the tiny dog parks in the city. It definitely has enough room for dogs to run and play. The crowd is 80% regulars who come every day at the same time and all know each other. The other 20% are random visitors many of whom probably don’t have a permit. There’s a small dog area that often has more dogs than the rest of the park. There’s also a separate agility area. Extra points for having many benches/​tables and a covered/​walled area in the middle for owners during rain/​winter. Busy times are before and after work with some dead times throughout the day. It’s lit until 10pm which is cool and I used to be part of the late night crowd. Most people are nice and it’s a comfortable place. Like any dog park there’s some dogs that probably shouldn’t be there and my dog got bit once. You need a permit and randomly there’s someone who comes and checks.

This review is not necessarily for the park, because it’s pretty great, but the patrons. Some of the earlier reviews are spot on regarding some owners. We’ve been to this park a few times and never had any run-ins…until this past weekend. I was having a bad day and I just needed to get away and enjoy the sun, so why not give the dog a break too and take her to the huge dog park to burn off some energy.
We arrived and as we’re walking in my dog started sniffing along the small dog area. We got to the table area and a woman was standing there with the gate open to the small dog area. My big dog likes little dogs and because there were quite a few trying to get at her to sniff, etc. she wandered into the area. I walked in behind her and closed the gate. My dog was literally 2 feet in the gate and I had my hand still on the gate when this woman comes bee-​lining towards me saying, «This is the small dog area! Did you read the rules?! You obviously didn’t read the rules!» (I want to state here that I have indeed read the rules (months ago) and that I didn’t realize there even was a small dog area, as I’ve NEVER seen any dogs in that area. Also, there were some good sized medium (maybe 50lb) dogs in the area with the small dogs, so who could know?)
She then said shrilly, «And absolutely NO choke collars allowed!!» She continued to belittle me in front of the other people there, asking snottily, «do you have a pass? You need a pass. You could get fined (looking me up and down) $ 1,000 if you don’t have a pass!!!» I said okay, we’ll go. As we were walking back towards the Sam’s Club lot, I could see the woman talking to the other biddies in there, pointing and gossiping. I mean, really.
I was so stunned by her outburst, I didn’t know what to say. I easily could have removed the choke collar and I could have told her I had already applied for a pass, etc. But dammit I was so stunned that this woman was so snotty and righteous that I just wanted to leave. The worst part? My dog didn’t even get a single run in… so she was just as bummed out as I was!
I won’t be back until we get our pass (though, does anyone EVER check them?) and we will be sure to stay away from the small dog area. If I ever see that woman again, I’ll be sure to give her a piece of my mind. She really made a bad day, worse. Ugh.
As for the park, it’s pretty awesome! Lots of space for dogs to run, lots of bushes to sniff and usually a few dogs to play with! If it weren’t for the owners, I’d rate this much higher.

This is a great park serving the Evanston/​Skokie area. Easily accessible off 2 major streets (Main or Oakton), this spacious park has some great features. Separate large and small dog areas, an agility court, plenty of doggie bags/​trash cans and a covered area for seating, this is the place to go if your dog needs to run around, socialize or just come to change up your daily walking routine!
You do need a permit and they do have inspectors come out and check periodically so look alive!
Otherwise the dogs and owners are super nice! We always make friends each time we visit

Pooch Park is fabulous!!! Very clean and the Skokie Park District takes great care of the park! You can join our FB page Peoples Pooch Park. We have 2 dogs and when they hear the word park they go crazy! Great happy place to escape from the everyday crazies!!!

I’m saddened to say that I no longer look forward to heading out to Pooch Park. The space is really great, but the ‘regulars’ are those people who come to socialize, judge others, and be those people who help me lose faith in the kindness of others.

On last visit there with one of my two pups — a very sweet, highly energetic, and wiggle dog — I was harrassed within minutes by another owner who #1 would not allow her dog to play with others (instead screamed at her each time she attempted to interact which clearly raised the level of anxiety of the dogs witnessing this screaming) #2 did not pick up her dog’s poop, and #3 seemed annoyed in general that there were dogs coming close to her vicinity. For lack of a better term, she was a complete meanie. And she targeted my dog. I am the first to acknowledge when my dog is at fault (which she can be many times), but I am also the first to stand up for my 2 year old pup who was SO excited to be with friends. This woman — she ruined my day. She was a cold, mean, crochet-​y middle aged woman without the common courtesies and manners that should be second nature to us all. And apparently she brings her dog to the dog park to practice screaming at her and denying her access to anything remotely good and fun.

Unfortunately this is not the first poor experience I have had there. Again, it has never been the actual place, but the people. Other times it was simply the lack of people paying attention to their dogs — not cleaning up after them, or not realizing that their dog is trying to leave with another family. Or is rolling in a mud puddle. Or is repeatedly trying to hump other dogs. It’s called ‘Pooch’ park, not coffee clutch park. It’s a great place to meet and chat with other dog owners, and the bench area is strategically located so you can easily see almost all of the park so you can chat while being a responsible dog parent and keeping an eye on your dog.
I’m tired of certain people ruining it for others, and for them being ‘those people’ who really make humans in general pale in comparison to the dogs around us (especially when in a dog park…). I think it may be worthwhile for it to be more closely patrolled, especially considering the fee required to have membership. And warnings for those owners who are not responsible OR who do not understand dog behavior and therefore antagonize their animal and others rather than allowing them to burn off some energy and socialize appropriately — maybe we all need to pass a class before being allowed to ‘patrol’ our pups at such a public locale. Regardless, I am hoping to find a new place for my pups to roam and enjoy the outdoors without being exposed to irresponsible humans.

I like this place, after I got past the fact that I had to pay $ 85 for my dog to get in (and I’ve never been asked for proof of membership). The space is huge, well-​maintained and offers nice perks, like a shelter, picnic tables, water for pups, etc. Plenty of room for my pitbull mix to run and «get her crazy out,» as we say, and she usually finds another pup or two willing to play. There are definitely «regulars» who all know one another and can be a little clique-​ish, but I don’t go to the dog park to make my own friends, you know? Most owners are good about paying attention to their dogs while playing, but as with everywhere, there’s usually an idiot or two on the phone while their dog is pooping in the bushes or jumping on people. Compared to our other options closer to home (Lakeview), which are either under the El or paved or both, Pooch Park is far better.

The park itself is nice but a lot, not all, of the dog owners are just a-​holes. There is a small clique if people who are regulars that don’t seem to welcome new comers. One of their dogs was gritting his teeth at my dog and was obviously ready to pounce. The dog snapped at my dog but missed and when he went to do it again, I yelled at the dog and startled it. From a distance far enough to where she could not see, the owner responded in an annoyed tone «They’re just playing». — A-​hole #1
Another member of the same group opened the second gate before closing the first gate and my dog was alone outside the dog park next to the Sam’s Club parking lot. When I ran over and got my dog back inside the guy said «That was close». That was his only acknowledgment to what he did. —A-hole#2
Then my dog walked up to another dog to sniff him and the other dog bite my dog’s ear. It bled a lot and I had to take him to the vet. Again, the owner who was sitting right next to his dog did not acknowledge it. — A-​hole #3.
I did however, meet a lot of nice people but the good does not outweigh the bad.

I like Pooch Park! Most of the owners are very responsible. The park could be maintained better for what they charge for a membership– there are often dips in the grass where water collects after the rain, which gets the dogs super dirty. Some people bring little children, which they are not supposed to do for obvious reasons. (Last week, I even saw a lady there with a newborn! EEK!) But in general, my dog and I are happy with this place!

I really love this place. It is a fenced park where you can let your dog run off-​leash. My ten-​month old cockapoo always have a blast everytime we come to the Pooch Park. And I honestly enjoy the park as much as she does, if not more. There are lots of friendly dogs and humans who frequent the park. There is this large area for bigger dogs, a smaller fenced area for puppies and smaller dogs, and a fenced agility course area. Sometimes, the dog owners leave the fences for the small dog and the agility course areas open so all dogs, big and small, play together. If one owner prefers the fence closed to keep his or her dog in, it is okay too. It all depends on the group of dogs present at any given time and how they play and interact with each other.
The park has water and bowls available for the dogs and a shade with benches plus some more benches out in the sun for the humans. The place has bags and waste bins on different spots so you can pick-​up after your dog/​s although occasionally, you might see dog waste left behind (either from an owner who didn’t clean up or an owner who didn’t realize that their dog went potty) but this is not very often. Overall, this is a very well-​maintained dog park.
I agree with others who said that the entrance sign by Oakton St is not very visible as it is somewhat recessed from the main road. The sign first reads Thommas J. Dammrich Rowing Center (with quite a bit more information written below that) then at the bottom there is a sign hanging that reads Pooch Park.
Update 09÷30÷12: I stopped coming to Pooch Park in Sept 2011 after one of my dogs had pulled something out from a mud hole and got diarrhea for 3 days. I vowed not to bring them back until the 2 big mud holes had been filled up. I started bringing them back in May 2012. The mud holes had been filled up, the area itself is still great, but so many people now do not pick-​up after their dogs. Some are too busy chatting with other people and some sit on the same spot throughout their stay (even if their dog is on the other end of the park) that they don’t notice when their dogs had relieved themselves. Even worse, some knowingly turn their heads away and put a blind eye to it. A few times, I had picked up after someone’s dog as I pick after my own dogs. Once, I saw a woman just kept going around picking up all that she can see (probably didn’t want her dog to keep stepping on them) but why does someone else has to do that for the irresponsible ones??? I started walking my dog in my own neigborhood instead and had taken them in another dog exercise area although Pooch Park is the closest one where I live.

My wife and I purchased a permit to bring our Schnoodle to the park back in May. I decided to do it after reading the reviews on Unilocal.I would have to say that it is an OK experience, but I think we need to take a clearer look at things before we call it «heaven», or say that the owners that visit this place are able to control their dogs. I have seen some very nice people at the park and feel that 15% of them are friendly people who are looking to get their dogs a little fresh air and some exercise. The other 85% seem to be from the cast of the movie «Best In Show». Yes, there is an area for small dogs to run in, but I have seen a woman go in their with a large dog and run it around and not let anyone else go in because the dog does not do well with other dogs. My favorite was a man that has a small dog that enjoyed biting at and trying to pull down my 6 month old dog. It really was not funny except for the fact that the dog’s name was BJ. Seeing an older man running around yelling «BJ, BJ, BJ», well, that was just precious. We have not been back since the end of July.

Wonderful place to take your dog and I highly recommend it if you don’t want to deal with people who can’t control their pooch. Check out this website
if you’re interested in purchasing a permit. You must get a permit to visit the park. It’s $ 80 for non-​resident and $ 40 for Evanston (or skokie) resident.

Great park. .. except when the snow is melting, or after a rain. Went Sat. evening and found myself ankle deep in mud. Needs some help with drainage — at least on the main path.

This is the worst park ever. 1. The dogs are not nice. They will bark at you yet, the owners don’t do anything about it. 2. When people’s dogs poop the owners don’t pick it up. 3. Waste of $ 40.
Don’t go here.

This place is absolute heaven! 2.5 acres of fenced off land for your dog to run around in and plenty of other friendly dogs and dog owners to socialize with. A doggy fountain with plenty of water bowls around the place in case the dogs get thirsty… and on a sunny day after running around after balls and each other, they will. Humans have benches under shade to sit on. :)
We went with Charlie for the first time this weekend and he had so much fun. There is one main area where all the dogs hang out at, a smaller fenced in area for puppies and dogs under 35 lbs, and an agility area.
You will need to make sure your dog is up to date with the vet (vaccines, fecal test, etc) and have a city license. Then a permit for Pooch Park will set you back $ 40 for a dog as an Evanston resident. It is entirely worth it though. Seeing your dog run free with a big happy face (!!!) with a bunch of other dogs and sniffing all the butts he can handle is great, especially when he is stuck inside a condo most of the time. They also have poop bags in little birdhouses all over the place and plenty of trash cans to throw them away in.
Pooch Park is east of McCormick Blvd. You can either park in the SW corner of the Sam’s Club/​Food4Less parking lot on Main or the Dammrich Rowing Center parking lot on Oakton and walk north to the gate. The parking lot on Oakton can be a little tricky to find as the sign is TINY… keep your eyes peeled (it is near the enormous towing company sign).

If this park could get a million stars it would deserve it — over 2 acres of gated land for your puppies to roam freely, separate areas for smaller dogs if wanted, water fountains, agility run, benches for humans to sit on and trees to sit under, PLENTY of parking if the place is a drive away for you, and even brush for the dogs who feen for the hunt.
The best!
FOR FIRST TIMERS:
This was hard for me to find on my first trip so hopefully this helps –there are 2 entrances:
1. On Oakton just east of McCormick — it’s on the north side of the street in between the plaza with Steak&Shake/Home Depot/​PetSmart and McCormick. You’ll see a standard sign for Skokie Park District that’s easy to miss. This leads you into a parking lot and the Pooch Park entrance is a short walk along the path north.
2. Basically in the southwest corner of the parking lot for Sam’s Club/​Food4Less/​Starbucks. The entrance to this lot is off the south side of Main St, again a little east of McCormick. Again, the park is a little walk from this lot!

I love this little park — we walked by and the space is phenomenal. I really want to get the non-​resident permit so I can bring in my pup for some afternoon fun!

It’s hard to believe that our new home & neighborhood of Evanston has far more conveniences than our former hood (South Loop), but it’s true. It’s especially true for our pups; there are a slew of dog friendly parks in Evanston, but none as friendly as Pooch Park, and luckily for us we live a mere 2 minutes from this dog playground.
Pooch Park has all the things dogs love: lots of grass, lots of balls, water fountains (for drinking and splashing around), and plenty of space. There are 3 areas: the main area for running around, playing catch, traveling in packs and taking us humans down at the knees. There is a smaller fenced-​in area for little dogs, puppies, or those dogs who prefer a calmer environment. Lastly there’s the agility-​area, separately fenced, which my dogs have no interest in but I think it’s cool that it’s there.
The water fountains are great, especially in the hot summer. The dogs love to stand under the taller one and bite the water, and there are plenty of bowls for drinking. or splashing in. They are turned off in mid-​October, but, people are great about bringing jugs of water for the dogs to share. There is a real feeling of community at the park and that’s one of my favorite things about it.
For Evanston & Skokie residents the annual fee is $ 40 for 1 dog or $ 55 for two, and it’s well worth the price, especially for us. Living just east off of Oakton means we are able to go several times during the week and all throughout the weekend. Our bubbas get exercise and plenty of socialization, and that makes for happy dogs. And, they both go down like sacks of rocks afterward!

My newest discovery (thanks to other Unilocaler’s suggestions)!!!
The pooches and I have been here three times now.
They now KNOW when I load them both in the car (they just might NOT be going to get shots)!!!
Too excited!
This park is set-​up perfectly!
They have a doggie water fountain.
Huge amount of land to run, catch balls and play.
A separate fenced area for the ankle-​biters and the puppies.
An agility area with apparatus; a hanging tire to jump through, a raised plank bridge, a jumping fence, etc.
Bags available for you-​know-​what.
Double gates (so no one escapes) on both the south and north ends of the park.
Plenty of parking.
Friendly dogs and their owners.
What a great way to spend a couple of hours with your furry kids!
Guaranteed dogs napping for hours when I get home!

I’ve been here quite a few times with my Rott, Bear. And it’s always been hell trying to get him back into the car… he won’t leave the park!!! It’s really a great place to meet other people and see so many different types of breeds. They have ample room to play and you can always see so many interesting characters!

Our two dogs are like our kids and they are very high energy breeds, so we spend a lot of time at the park with them. POOCH Park has become our favorite park because of it’s size, location, and the friendliness of other users.
There is an agility area, if your dog is into that kind of thing. Our dogs are not. There’s also an area for smaller dogs, so they are not overwhelmed by the larger dogs.
I really like the fact that there’s a doggie drinking fountain, which is truly useful during the summer months. It’s turned off once the weather turns cold, but many visitors then bring their own water.
We don’t live in Skokie or Evanston, so we pay the non-​resident fee, but it’s well worth it. We spend at least 4 – 5 hours per week at POOCH Park.